dephosphorylate

transitive verb

de·​phos·​pho·​ryl·​ate (ˈ)dēˈfäsfərə̇ˌlāt How to pronounce dephosphorylate (audio)
-ed/-ing/-s
: to remove the phosphate portion of (an organic compound of phosphoric acid) by hydrolysis (as with the aid of a phosphatase)

Word History

Etymology

de- + phosphoryl + -ate

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Cite this Entry

“Dephosphorylate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dephosphorylate. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

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