xerography

[ zi-rog-ruh-fee ]

noun

1. an electrostatic printing process for copying text or graphics whereby areas on a sheet of paper corresponding to the image areas of the original are sensitized with a charge of static electricity so that, when powdered with a toner carrying an opposite charge, only the charged areas retain the toner, which is then fused to the paper to make it permanent.

xerography

/ zɪˈrɒɡrəfɪ; ˌzɪərəˈɡræfɪk /

noun

1. a photocopying process in which an electrostatic image is formed on a selenium plate or cylinder. The plate or cylinder is dusted with a resinous powder, which adheres to the charged regions, and the image is then transferred to a sheet of paper on which it is fixed by heating

Derived Forms

• xerographic, adjective
• ˌxeroˈgraphically, adverb
• xeˈrographer, noun

Other Words From

• xe·ro·graph·ic [zeer-, uh, -, graf, -ik], adjective
• xero·graphi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of xerography¹

First recorded in 1945–50; xero- + -graphy

Example Sentences

Wilson in 1959 called xerography “a fundamental new way of visual communications.”

From The Daily Beast