dispersion
noun
dis·per·sion
di-ˈspər-zhən 
-shən
1
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
Examples of dispersion in a Sentence
the dispersion of energy from a source
Recent Examples on the Web
Their familiarity with Iberian language and culture, combined with the dispersion of their community, positioned them to participate in the new global economy: trade in sugar, textiles, spices – and the trade in human lives, Atlantic slavery.
—
Flora Cassen, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
The standard deviation measures price volatility, so the bands widen during periods of high volatility and contract during periods of low volatility, visually representing the dispersion of prices around the mean.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 23 June 2025
The green flash is a rare, brief optical event of green, yellow, and sometimes blue that colors the horizon, occurring at sunrise or sunset most often in the western U.S.
Refraction and dispersion cause the green flash, and there are four different types of green flashes that can occur.
—Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2025
The team was able to use the dispersion of light to map and measure matter along the pathway of the fast radio bursts.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispersion
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Flora Cassen, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
The standard deviation measures price volatility, so the bands widen during periods of high volatility and contract during periods of low volatility, visually representing the dispersion of prices around the mean.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 23 June 2025
The green flash is a rare, brief optical event of green, yellow, and sometimes blue that colors the horizon, occurring at sunrise or sunset most often in the western U.S.
Refraction and dispersion cause the green flash, and there are four different types of green flashes that can occur.
—Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2025
The team was able to use the dispersion of light to map and measure matter along the pathway of the fast radio bursts.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispersion
Cite this Entry
“Dispersion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispersion. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
adjective
-ˈpər-siv
-ziv
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
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