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

He even came up with a term for the process: “xerography.”

From New York Times

In the early sixties, Xerox was working on a new technology called “long distance xerography,” which was basically like a big industrial version of a fax machine.

From Forbes

Small printing press manufacturers went bankrupt as customers shifted to xerography, and Xerox waned as customers shifted on to desktop publishing. 

From Forbes

There, he worked with Chester Carlson, known as the inventor of xerography, the basic technology behind photocopying.

From New York Times

Further, because Xerox’s business model at the time was based on how many copies customers printed out, he didn’t see much business potential in the limited page volume that long range xerography could ever generate.

From Forbes