zwitterion

[ tsvit-er-ahy-uhn ]

noun

, Physical Chemistry.

1. an ion with both a positive and a negative charge.

zwitterion

/ ˌtsvɪtəraɪˈɒnɪk; ˈtsvɪtərˌaɪən /

noun

1. chem an ion that carries both a positive and a negative charge

Derived Forms

• zwitterionic, adjective

Other Words From

• zwit·ter·i·on·ic [tsvit-er-ahy-, on, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zwitterion¹

< German Zwitterion (1897), equivalent to Zwitter hybrid, hermaphrodite + Ion ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of zwitterion¹

C20: from German Zwitter hermaphrodite + ion

Example Sentences

After 14 rounds of words like “probouleutic” and “zwitterion” and “schistorrhachis,” Dev Shah, an eighth grader from Florida, had to wait through one more commercial break.

From New York Times

He won after 14 rounds including words like “probouleutic” and “zwitterion” and “schistorrhachis.”

From New York Times

After 14 rounds of words like “probouleutic” and “zwitterion” and “schistorrhachis,” Dev Shah, an eighth grader from Florida, reached the apotheosis of his craft, correctly spelling “psammophile” to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night.

From New York Times