electronegative
Americanadjective
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containing negative electricity; tending to migrate to the positive pole in electrolysis.
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assuming negative potential when in contact with a dissimilar substance.
adjective
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having a negative electric charge
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(of an atom, group, molecule, etc) tending to gain or attract electrons and form negative ions or polarized bonds Compare electropositive
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Tending to attract electrons and to form a negative ion. Nonmetals are generally electronegative.
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Having a negative electric charge.
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Capable of acting as a negative electrode.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of electronegative
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.
Although C and S have very similar electronegativity values, S is slightly more electronegative than C, and so the C-S bond is just slightly polar.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
Dipole vectors are shown as arrows pointing along the bond from the less electronegative atom toward the more electronegative atom.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
HClO3 is stronger than HBrO3; Cl is more electronegative than Br.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
When we must choose among several Lewis structures with similar distributions of formal charges, the structure with the negative formal charges on the more electronegative atoms is preferable.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
Non-metals are electronegative, and with H, or with H and O, form acids.
From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Rufus Phillips Williams
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.
