dilution

American  

[dih-loo-shuhn, dahy-] / dɪˈlu ʃən, daɪ- /

noun

1. the act of diluting or the state of being diluted.

2. something diluted.

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dilution British  

/ daɪˈluːʃən /

noun

1. the act of diluting or state of being diluted

2. a diluted solution

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dilution Scientific  

/ dĭ-lo̅o̅′shən /

1. The process of making a substance less concentrated by adding a solvent, such as water.

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Other Word Forms

• antidilution adjective
• nondilution noun
• overdilution noun

Etymology

Origin of dilution

First recorded in 1640–50; dilute + -ion

Explanation

Dilution is when something is watered down or weakened. You might object to the dilution of your grandmother's watery iced tea. When the concentration of some substance is made weaker — often by the addition of water — it undergoes dilution. This noun shows up a lot in chemistry, but you can use it to talk about any watered down liquid. You can also describe the dilution, or weakening, of less tangible things, like the dilution of important information in an article after it's edited. The Latin root, diluere, means "dissolve or wash away."

Example Sentences

That, as well as massive shareholder dilution, has pushed the stock into “penny stock” territory — it has closed below $1 every day since Jan. 15. — from its peak well above $200.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 12, 2026

They were said to have narrowed some but not all of the gaps, at least on the nuclear file, where Iran offered new concessions including the dilution of its highly enriched uranium.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

It will use some of the proceeds to enter into capped call transactions, which are hedging instruments used to reduce potential stock dilution from converted bonds.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

“We’ve taken steps to improve performance, strengthen free cash flow, and offset dilution, and will continue to evaluate actions that drive long-term value for all stockholders.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

If the best antidote for poisons is dilution, what better dilution than a chemical designed to add water and oxygen constantly for hundreds of years?

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera