decarboxylation

noun

de·​car·​box·​yl·​ation ˌdē-kär-ˌbäk-sə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce decarboxylation (audio)
: the removal or elimination of carboxyl from a molecule
decarboxylate transitive verb

Examples of decarboxylation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are various methods for infusing cannabis, with the most common being the decarboxylation process followed by infusion. Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 5 June 2025 These sessions are often led by chefs who specialize in culinary cannabis, teaching everything from the basics of decarboxylation to crafting gourmet edibles. Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024 These processes include winterization, decarboxylation, and chromatography. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2023 The process is called decarboxylation, and there are expensive devices on the market that home chefs can buy to prepare their cannabis for cooking. Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decarboxylation was in 1922

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Cite this Entry

“Decarboxylation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decarboxylation. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

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