emulsion

noun

emul·​sion i-ˈməl-shən 

1

a

: a system (such as fat in milk) consisting of a liquid dispersed with or without an emulsifier in an immiscible liquid usually in droplets of larger than colloidal size

b

: the state of such a system

2

: suspension sense 2b(3)

especially : a suspension of a sensitive silver salt or a mixture of silver halides in a viscous medium (such as a gelatin solution) forming a coating on photographic plates, film, or paper

Synonyms of emulsion

• mixture
• alloy
• blend
• mix
• amalgam
• amalgamation
• combination

Examples of emulsion in a Sentence

milk is basically an oil-in-water emulsion

Recent Examples on the Web

Named the Do It All Sheer Tint Face Balm, the L’Oréal brand’s latest product is a first-of-its-kind, hot pour emulsion skin tint created with radiant pigments and 92 percent skin care ingredients, including Vitamin E, collagen peptide, glycerin and hyaluronic acid. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026

Slurry seal, consisting of asphalt emulsion, sand and rock, is applied to a street surface at an average thickness of a quarter-inch. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

At Locanda Nerello, the property’s upscale organic restaurant, cabbage emulsions will come to the table tasting more like cabbage than seems feasible; chunks of Nebrodi pig, crisped to a mahogany brown, will top eggy, cheesy pasta, and local honey will sweeten complex desserts. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026

And for patients facing extreme limitations to mobility, or who live vast distances from hospitals and clinics, mobile medical practitioners could offer MIT microparticle emulsion as a no-fuss, no-muss solution – a literal solution of antibodies in a single injection. —New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin emulsion-, emulsio, from Latin emulgēre to milk out, from e- + mulgēre to milk; akin to Old English melcan to milk, Greek amelgein

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for emulsion

• avulsion
• compulsion
• convulsion
• expulsion
• impulsion
• propulsion
• repulsion
• revulsion
• microemulsion

Kids Definition

emulsion

noun

emul·​sion i-ˈməl-shən 

: a material consisting of a mixture of liquids that do not dissolve in each other and having droplets of one liquid scattered throughout the other

an emulsion of oil in water

Medical Definition

emulsion

noun

emul·​sion i-ˈməl-shən 

1

a

: a system (as fat in milk) consisting of a liquid dispersed with or without an emulsifier in an immiscible liquid usually in droplets of larger than colloidal size

b

: the state of such a system

2

: suspension sense 2

especially : a suspension of a sensitive silver salt or a mixture of halides of silver in a viscous medium (as a gelatin solution) forming a coating on photographic plates, film, or paper

emulsive

-ˈməl-siv 

adjective