photovoltaic

adjective

pho·​to·​vol·​ta·​ic ˌfō-tō-väl-ˈtā-ik 

-vōl-

: of, relating to, or utilizing the generation of a voltage when radiant energy falls on the boundary between dissimilar substances (such as two different semiconductors)

photovoltaic noun

Examples of photovoltaic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new plant will produce 1.3 megawatts peak (MWp), bringing the photovoltaic park’s total output to 8.3 MWp. —Carved, Sourcing Journal, 10 Sep. 2025

Its onboard electronics are powered by batteries which are charged by an array of front and rear photovoltaic panels. —New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2025

With panels that can be deployed, rolled up, and redeployed, organizations from sports arenas to commercial rooftops—even emergency response teams—can harness clean energy without the heavy logistics of traditional photovoltaic installations. —Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

The light is captured and converted to electricity with a photovoltaic cell, which can be tuned to the frequency of the emitted light to improve conversion efficiency. —IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for photovoltaic

• allogeneic
• algebraic
• aramaic
• formulaic
• ptolemaic
• syngeneic
• altaic
• archaic
• deltaic
• hebraic
• mosaic
• oleic