chemistry

American  

[kem-uh-stree] / ˈkɛm ə stri /

noun

chemistries plural

1. the science that deals with the composition and properties of substances and various elementary forms of matter.

2. chemical properties, reactions, phenomena, etc..

   the chemistry of carbon.

3. the interaction of one personality with another.

   The chemistry between him and his boss was all wrong.

4. sympathetic understanding; rapport.

   the astonishing chemistry between the actors.

5. any or all of the elements that make up something.

   the chemistry of love.

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chemistry British  

/ ˈkɛmɪstrɪ /

noun

1. the branch of physical science concerned with the composition, properties, and reactions of substances See also inorganic chemistry organic chemistry physical chemistry

2. the composition, properties, and reactions of a particular substance

3. the nature and effects of any complex phenomenon

   the chemistry of humour

4. informal a reaction, taken to be instinctual, between two persons

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chemistry Scientific  

/ kĕm′ĭ-strē /

1. The scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of the chemical elements and the compounds they form.

2. The composition, structure, properties, and reactions of a substance.

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chemistry Cultural  

1. The study of the composition, properties, and reactions of matter, particularly at the level of atoms and molecules.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• chemistries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chemistry

First recorded in 1590–1600; chemist + -ry; replacing earlier chymistry, chimistry

Explanation

Chemistry is the science that tells us what things and people are made of; for example, that water is really H2O, two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Chemistry deals with chemicals and elements, the building blocks of our world. The periodic table, that table of all of earth's basic elements — iron, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, etc. — comes from chemistry. Chemistry explains how atoms attract each other to become molecules. We also use the term to refer to people who are attracted to each other, either as colleagues, friends or romantic partners. Movie reviewers often say that that romantic leads have "great chemistry" — or not.

Example Sentences

“It’s like Floyd is the greatest thing Clark’s ever met. A less sophisticated actor might not do that. That choice launched a chemistry between us that was very special.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

That chemistry worked for us for many years.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

In his Boulder lab chock full of instruments, Kyle McMillan -- a PhD candidate in atmospheric chemistry -- is working to better understand what happens in the clouds.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

He put the money in shares of a local bank, growing the sum to $1,700, enough to pay for most of his first year at Bucknell University, where he studied chemistry.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

When Marina graduated from high school in 1929, her focus on chemistry helped her find a job as an apprentice in a dye factory, and six months later she became a full technician.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• appeal
• beauty
• charisma
• glamour
• grace
• magic