adhesion

American  

[ad-hee-zhuhn] / ædˈhi ʒən /

noun

1. the act or state of adhering; state of being adhered or united.

   the adhesion of parts united by growth.

2. steady or devoted attachment, support, etc.; adherence.

3. assent; concurrence.

4. Physics. the molecular force of attraction in the area of contact between unlike bodies that acts to hold them together.

5. Pathology.

   1. the abnormal union of adjacent tissues.

   2. the tissue involved.

6. Botany. the union of normally separate parts.

7. Railroads.

   1. the frictional resistance of rails to the tendency of driving wheels to slip.

   2. factor of adhesion.

---

adhesion British  

/ ədˈhiːʒən /

noun

1. the quality or condition of sticking together or holding fast

2. ability to make firm contact without skidding or slipping

3. attachment or fidelity, as to a political party, cause, etc

4. an attraction or repulsion between the molecules of unlike substances in contact: distinguished from cohesion

5. pathol abnormal union of structures or parts

---

adhesion Scientific  

/ ăd-hē′zhən /

1. The force of attraction that causes two different substances to join. Adhesion causes water to spread out over glass.

2. Compare cohesion

3. A fibrous band of abnormal tissue that binds together tissues that are normally separate. Adhesions form during the healing of some wounds, usually as a result of inflammation.

---

adhesion Cultural  

1. The molecular (see molecule) attraction that holds the surfaces of two dissimilar substances together. (Compare cohesion.)

---

Usage

Adhesion is the preferred term when talking about sticking or holding fast in a physical sense. Adherence is preferred when talking about attachment to a political party, cause, etc

Other Word Forms

• adhesional adjective
• nonadhesion noun

Etymology

Origin of adhesion

1615–25; < Medieval Latin adhēsiōn- for Latin adhaesiōn- (stem of adhaesiō ) a clinging, equivalent to adhaes ( us ), past participle of adhaerēre to adhere + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

This creates a highly efficient system that supports cell protrusion, adhesion and rapid shape changes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

His ability to balance on the edge of adhesion in the braking-entry phase at a higher speed than almost anyone else made him stand out.

From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025

It said low adhesion would be an area of ongoing investigation.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2024

Compaction problems are therefore due to faulty contractility in these cells, and not a lack of adhesion between them, as was previously assumed.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2024

Nevertheless their adhesion to the kingdom is external and objective merely.

From The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6 A Monthly Eclectic Magazine by Rameur, E.