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Synonyms

alkaline

American  
[al-kuh-lahyn, -lin] / ˈæl kəˌlaɪn, -lɪn /

adjective

Chemistry.

  1. of or like an alkali.

  2. containing an alkali.

  3. having the properties of an alkali.

  4. having a pH value greater than 7.

alkaline British  
/ ˈælkəˌlaɪn /

adjective

  1. having the properties of or containing an alkali

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
alkaline Scientific  
/ ăl′kə-lĭn,-līn′ /

  1. Capable of neutralizing an acid. Bases are alkaline.

  2. Relating to an alkali compound.

  3. Having a pH greater than 7.

  4. Having a relatively low concentration of hydrogen ions.

Etymology

Origin of alkaline

First recorded in 1670–80; alkal(i) + -ine 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The process - called alkaline hydrolysis - will offer families a third option instead of burial or traditional cremation.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

“When the Emperor Was Divine” takes place in Utah, in “a city of tar-paper barracks behind a barbed-wire fence on a dusty alkaline plain.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

The site's pH of 12 makes it one of the most alkaline environments ever documented, creating conditions that are exceptionally difficult for life to endure.

From Science Daily • Nov. 9, 2025

The process uses hot water mixed with an alkaline lye solution, so it’s more environmentally friendly than standard cremation, and usually more expensive.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2025

When the soil is too alkaline, which can be thought of as being too sweet, you need to add sulfur.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.