catalysis

American  

[kuh-tal-uh-sis] / kəˈtæl ə sɪs /

noun

catalyses plural

1. Chemistry. the causing or accelerating of a chemical change by the addition of a catalyst.

2. an action between two or more persons or forces, initiated by an agent that itself remains unaffected by the action.

   social catalyses occasioned by controversial writings.

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catalysis British  

/ kəˈtælɪsɪs /

noun

1. acceleration of a chemical reaction by the action of a catalyst

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-catalysis
  noun
• anticatalytic
  adjective
• catalytic
  adjective
• catalytical
  adjective
• noncatalytic
  adjective
• semicatalytic
  adjective
• anticatalytically
  adverb
• catalytically
  adverb
• noncatalytically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• catalyses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of catalysis

First recorded in 1645–55; from New Latin, from Greek katálȳsis “dissolution,” equivalent to katalȳ́ein “to dissolve” ( kata- cata- + lȳ́ein “to loosen”) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

The research, published in Chem Catalysis, shows that plastics, which are rich in carbon and hydrogen, can be treated as a resource rather than just waste.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

The work was published in Nature Catalysis on October 31, 2025.

From Science Daily • Nov. 8, 2025

Daniel Lundberg PhD '24 and MIT postdoc Jimin Kim are the lead authors of the study, which appears in Nature Catalysis.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

The research findings were published in the journal Nature Catalysis on 13 February 2024.

From Science Daily • Feb. 28, 2024

Medicines must act either by combination with the affected part, or by Catalysis, changing the molecular action of the living tissues.

From An Epitome of the Homeopathic Healing Art Containing the New Discoveries and Improvements to the Present Time by Hill, B. L. (Benjamin L.)