acidity

American  

[uh-sid-i-tee] / əˈsɪd ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality or state of being acid.

2. sourness; tartness.

3. excessive acid quality, as of the gastric juice.

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acidity British  

/ əˈsɪdɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality or state of being acid

2. the amount of acid present in a solution, often expressed in terms of pH

3. another name for hyperacidity

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• superacidity
  noun
• preacidity
  noun
• nonacidity
  noun
• overacidity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of acidity

From the Late Latin word aciditās, dating back to 1610–20. See acid, -ity

Explanation

Acidity is sourness, so you might turn down a bite of your friend's kumquat because its acidity is just too much for you. This noun is good for literal acidity, like a lemon's sour flavor or, in scientific terms, the chemical quality of a substance that reacts with a base to make salt. You can also use it in a figurative way when someone's tone is sharp and biting: "The acidity in my dad's voice told me we were really in trouble for eating all the tomatoes in his garden."

Example Sentences

Tasting notes: Juicy stone fruit flavors with bright acidity and a lingering mineral finish.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

The wine’s high acidity makes it particularly food friendly, while its layered flavors may appeal to drinkers of other white wines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

It’s that it contains many of the flavors that make ranch appealing in the first place: alliums, herbs, dairy richness and acidity.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

Acidity also disappeared much faster at 30°C. Meanwhile, mangoes kept at 12°C retained significantly more acidity, helping preserve flavor balance.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2026

The mere thought of adding acidity to my stomach stirred more nausea.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini