phlogiston

[ floh-jis-ton, -tuhn ]

noun

1. a nonexistent chemical that, prior to the discovery of oxygen, was thought to be released during combustion.

phlogiston

/ -tən; flɒˈdʒɪstɒn /

noun

1. chem a hypothetical substance formerly thought to be present in all combustible materials and to be released during burning

phlogiston

/ flō-jĭs′tən /

1. A hypothetical colorless, odorless, weightless substance once believed to be the combustible part of all flammable substances and to be given off as flame during burning. In the 18th century, Antoine Lavoisier proved that phlogiston does not exist.
2. See Note at Lavoisier

Word History and Origins

Origin of phlogiston¹

1720–30; < New Latin: inflammability, noun use of Greek phlogistón, neuter of phlogistós inflammable, burnt up; phlogistic

Word History and Origins

Origin of phlogiston¹

C18: via New Latin from Greek, from phlogizein to set alight; related to phlegein to burn

Example Sentences

One day we may discover that some of our most cherished forms of knowledge are as obsolete as epicycles, phlogiston, caloric, the electromagnetic aether and, indeed, Newtonian physics.

From Literature

These include: wishful thinking, hearsay, phlogiston, alchemy, divination, Magic 8 Ball, séance, witchcraft, fake news, sorcery, transmutation, quackery, ballyhoo, Ouija Board, smoke and mirrors and bigly, among others.

From Seattle Times

After over 30 years of “intellectual regress”, the study of booms and busts now reminds him of a lipstick-wearing pig or an obsolete scientific embarrassment like the phlogiston theory of fire.

From Economist

In macroeconomics the problem is especially bad: we’re better than chemistry was when it was still considering phlogiston but not as advanced as physics is, say, with nuclear reactions and decay.

From Forbes

Characters are equipped with a “lilium orb”, a piece of applied phlogiston which arrays bonuses to their character statistics along a spider-web pattern.

From Forbes

Related Words

• blaze
• bonfire
• heat
• inferno