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

None of this requires pretending a test strip is mass spectrometry. — Dr. Shravani Durbhakula, Time, 1 Nov. 2026

Such samples are then analyzed in a lab with a technique called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. — Marta Zaraaska, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026

The researchers examined its composition and formation using techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026

PrecivityAD2 is a single blood test that quickly assesses the proteins amyloid and tau, using mass spectrometry to measure plasma Aβ42/40 and p-tau217/np-tau217. — New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mass spectrometry

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

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