noun
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the quality or state of being acid
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the amount of acid present in a solution, often expressed in terms of pH
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another name for hyperacidity
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing acidity
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.
Tasting notes: Juicy stone fruit flavors with bright acidity and a lingering mineral finish.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
Tasting notes: Crisp, linear and saline, with bright acidity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
Replacing some or all of the water in bread dough with pickle brine adds subtle acidity and depth—something savory and almost malty in the background.
From Salon • May 28, 2026
The researchers believe that in healthy cells, TMEM175 helps maintain the ideal acidity level, allowing waste breakdown to proceed efficiently.
From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026
My gut is the sea, roiling and stirring with deep dark acidity and malevolent intent.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
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.
