mass spectrometry

noun

: an instrumental method for identifying the chemical constitution of a substance by means of the separation of gaseous ions according to their differing mass and charge

called also mass spectroscopy

mass spectrometer noun

mass spectrometric adjective

Examples of mass spectrometry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The team analyzed 406 samples with organic molecules using pyrolysis gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. —Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025

AiA’s expertise is testing non-traditional isotopes and analyzing elements using plasma source mass spectrometry. —Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 18 Nov. 2025

Returning to the team's analysis, an isotope is an atom of a specific element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons — and Dottin wanted to check the isotopic ratios of sulfur, which a secondary ion mass spectrometry can measure precisely. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2025

Dottin and his team used secondary ion mass spectrometry to analyze the sample. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mass spectrometry

• anthropometry
• audiometry
• densitometry
• radiometry
• sociometry
• trigonometry
• cytometry
• geometry
• isometry
• manometry
• morphometry
• optometry

Medical Definition

mass spectrometry

noun

: an instrumental method for identifying the chemical constitution of a substance by means of the separation of gaseous ions according to their differing mass and charge

called also mass spectroscopy

mass spectrometric adjective

mass spectrometrically adverb