fluoridation

American

[floor-i-day-shuhn, flawr-, flohr-] / ˌflʊər ɪˈdeɪ ʃən, ˌflɔr-, ˌfloʊr- /

noun

the addition of fluorides to the public water supply to reduce the incidence of tooth decay.

fluoridation British

/ ˌflʊərɪˈdeɪʃən /

noun

the addition of about one part per million of fluorides to the public water supply as a protection against tooth decay

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of fluoridation

First recorded in 1900–05; fluoride + -ation

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.

See Examples For:

fluoridation

The government is also expanding water fluoridation across north-east England, following a public consultation.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2025

The cleanliness and fluoridation of the water supply has dramatically reduced infectious disease and cavities, and has been heralded as one of the 20th century's greatest public health achievements.

From Salon ● Jan. 27, 2025

Finally, we also know that water fluoridation prevents dental disease.

From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2025

Despite the obvious and proven benefits of fluoridation for teeth, it’s very controversial.

From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2025

Tooth decay is a little-recognized public health problem, in part because fluoridation has made it rarer than it used to be.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2024

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023