dispersion

noun

dis·​per·​sion di-ˈspər-zhən 

-shən

1

capitalized Judaism : diaspora sense 1b

2

: the act or process of dispersing : the state of being dispersed

crowd dispersion

3

mathematics : the scattering of the values of a frequency distribution from an average

4

physics : the separation of light into colors by refraction or diffraction with formation of a spectrum

also : the separation of radiation (see radiation sense 2) into components in accordance with some varying characteristic (such as energy)

5

chemistry

a

: a dispersed (see disperse sense 2c) substance

b

: a system (see system sense 1a(2)) consisting of a dispersed substance and the medium in which it is dispersed : colloid sense 2b

Synonyms

• dispersal
• scattering

Examples of dispersion in a Sentence

the dispersion of energy from a source

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, vaccine distribution involves intricate logistics and cold storage planning, strict safety and compliance requirements and optimizing for both consolidation (such as co-locating compatible products) and dispersion (like geographic and weather risks). —Michael Amori, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Monuments from the Holocene Humid Period in the Dhofar were built in a single episode by groups requiring as many as seven strong men, whereas the subsequent aridification of the climate and resulting dispersion of the population encouraged the creation of accretive monuments. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025

The first thing that jumped out at me was the breadth of sector dispersion among the top ten Best Stocks this month. —Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 1 July 2025

The green flash is caused by refraction and dispersion. —Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see disperse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dispersion

• aspersion
• aversion
• conversion
• diversion
• eversion
• excursion
• immersion
• incursion
• inversion
• perversion
• recursion
• reversion

Kids Definition

dispersion

noun

dis·​per·​sion dis-ˈpər-zhən 

1

: the act or process of dispersing : the state of being dispersed

2

: the separation of light (as by a prism) into a series of colors

dispersive

-ˈpər-siv

-ziv

adjective

Medical Definition

dispersion

noun

dis·​per·​sion dis-ˈpər-zhən, -shən 

1

: the act or process of dispersing : the state of being dispersed

2

: the separation of light into colors by refraction or diffraction with formation of a spectrum

also : the separation of radiation into components in accordance with some varying characteristic (as energy)

3

a

: a dispersed substance

b

: a system consisting of a dispersed substance and the medium in which it is dispersed : colloid sense 2b

called also disperse system