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 spectrometer noun

Examples of mass spectrometry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, for example, while effective at identifying chemical compounds, involve expensive apparatus and necessitate destroying the sample. —IEEE Spectrum, 21 Aug. 2019

Once extracted, the proteins were separated using liquid chromatography and identified via mass spectrometry. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2025

Using mass spectrometry, the research team analyzed collagen peptides (short chains of amino acids) from Zygomaturus trilobus (wombat), Palorchestes azael (marsupial), and Protemnodon mamkurra (kangaroo). —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 3 June 2025

For example, some of my research involves training deep learning methods to interpret mass spectrometry data. —William Stafford Noble, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 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