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

• disbandment
• dispersal
• dissipation
• scattering

Examples of dispersion in a Sentence

the dispersion of energy from a source

Recent Examples on the Web

Avocados’ dependence upon megafaunal dispersion almost led to their undoing when all of these large mammals suddenly went extinct around 12,500 years ago due to human hunting, possibly also combined with environmental or climactic effects. —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

And rendering specialists need it to accurately simulate real-world optical effects like dispersion (rainbows from prisms, for example) and fluorescence. —ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025

This is the dispersion of aerosols like fireworks or industrial pollutants that are inhibited by surface-level temperatures either the same or higher in the atmosphere up to a couple thousand feet. . —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 2 Jan. 2025

Communities can stay informed about ash risks through official alerts, including those from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers, which monitor ash dispersion and issue timely warnings. —David Kitchen, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 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