polymerization

noun

po·​ly·​mer·​i·​za·​tion pə-ˌli-mə-rə-ˈzā-shən  ˌpä-lə-mə-rə- 

1

: a chemical reaction in which two or more molecules combine to form larger molecules that contain repeating structural units compare association sense 5

2

: reduplication of parts in an organism

Examples of polymerization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is part of seasoning the pan, which is essentially a layer of oil that is baked into the cast iron (the technical process for this is called polymerization). — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 4 June 2026

The researchers used liquid metal particles (LMPs) as initiators for polymerization, the chemical process used to form the hydrogel network. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 June 2026

In a chemical reaction known as frontal polymerization, that agent initiates the curing process as soon as the mixture is extruded from the printing nozzle. — New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2025

That starts a chain reaction of polymerization that ultimately kills the cell. — Jon Hamilton, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polymerization

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Kids Definition

polymerization

noun

po·​ly·​mer·​i·​za·​tion pə-ˌlim-ə-rə-ˈzā-shən  ˌpäl-ə-mə-rə- 

: a chemical reaction in which two or more small molecules combine to form larger molecules

polymerize

pə-ˈlim-ə-ˌrīz, 

ˈpäl-ə-mə-

verb

Medical Definition

polymerization

noun

po·​ly·​mer·​iza·​tion

variants also British polymerisation

pə-ˌlim-ə-rə-ˈzā-shən  ˌpäl-ə-mə-rə- 

1

: a chemical reaction in which two or more small molecules combine to form larger molecules that contain repeating structural units of the original molecules compare association sense 4

2

: reduplication of parts in an organism