nucleophilic

adjective

nu·​cle·​o·​phil·​ic ˌnü-klē-ə-ˈfi-lik 

ˌnyü-

1

of an atom, ion, or molecule : having an affinity for atomic nuclei : being an electron donor

2

: involving a nucleophilic species

a nucleophilic reaction

compare electrophilic

nucleophilically

ˌnü-klē-ə-ˈfi-li-k(ə-)lē 

ˌnyü-

adverb

nucleophilicity

ˌnü-klē-ō-fi-ˈli-sə-tē 

ˌnyü-

noun

Examples of nucleophilic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It can be synthesized in a number of ways—Liu’s team has experimented with making it from various nucleophilic agents, solvents, and mechanical supports—but the key starting ingredients always include lithium sulfide (Li2S) and phosphorus sulfide (P2S5). — IEEE Spectrum, 3 Feb. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nucleophilic

• amphiphilic
• basophilic
• carboxylic
• hydrophilic
• lipophilic
• mesophilic
• neutrophilic
• thermophilic
• acidophilic
• dicarboxylic
• electrophilic
• tricarboxylic

Medical Definition

nucleophilic

adjective

nu·​cleo·​phil·​ic ˌn(y)ü-klē-ə-ˈfil-ik 

1

of an atom, ion, or molecule : having an affinity for atomic nuclei : being an electron donor

2

: involving a nucleophilic species

a nucleophilic reaction

nucleophilically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

nucleophilicity

-klē-ō-fil-ˈis-ət-ē 

noun

plural nucleophilicities