hydroxyl

American  

[hahy-drok-suhl] / haɪˈdrɒk səl /

Or hydroxy

adjective

1. containing the hydroxyl group.

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hydroxyl British  

/ haɪˈdrɒksɪl /

noun

1. (modifier) of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group -OH or the ion OH ^–

   a hydroxyl group or radical

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hydroxyl Scientific  

/ hī-drŏk′sĭl /

1. The group OH. Hydroxyl is present in bases, certain acids, hydroxides, and alcohols.

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Other Word Forms

• hydroxylic adjective

Etymology

Origin of hydroxyl

First recorded in 1865–70; hydr- ² + ox(y)- ² + -yl

Compare meaning

How does hydroxyl compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hydroxyl vs. alcohol

Example Sentences

Identifying water through its ultraviolet byproduct, hydroxyl, marks an important step in understanding how interstellar comets behave and change over time.

From Science Daily • Feb. 11, 2026

Throughout the process, Huml also uses a variety of machines to clean the air, including air scrubbers, deodorizing hydroxyl generators and negative air machines that clean the air and push it outside.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2025

It can result, above all, from the reaction of sulfur dioxide with hydroxyl radicals.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

The free radical species generated, hydroxyl radical, is extremely reactive and hits DNA like a shotgun blast, causing damage everywhere, Burrows said.

From Science Daily • Nov. 26, 2024

The nitro group behaves very similarly to the hydroxyl group.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various