ligand

American

[lahy-guhnd, lig-uhnd] / ˈlaɪ gənd, ˈlɪg ənd /

noun

Biochemistry. a molecule, as an antibody, hormone, or drug, that binds to a receptor.
Chemistry. a molecule, ion, or atom that is bonded to the central metal atom of a coordination compound.

ligand British

/ ˈlɪɡənd, ˈlaɪ- /

noun

chem an atom, molecule, radical, or ion forming a complex with a central atom

"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

Etymology

Origin of ligand

1945–50; < Latin ligandus, gerund of ligāre to bind, tie

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:

ligand

Although the study focused only on neodymium, Hernández Sánchez and his team believe the same ligand scaffold could support similar reactions with most lanthanides and probably actinides as well.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

This arrangement created an octacoordinate ligand environment, giving the scientists a way to fine-tune the positions of the metals.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

This includes suppressing the Wnt ligand Wnt4 and reducing downstream β-catenin activity.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 6, 2026

Similar to traditional palladium-based catalysis, the behavior of photoexcited palladium catalysts is highly dependent on the phosphine ligand attached to the metal.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 26, 2025

The key is the ligand — that’s the general word for whatever chemical messenger or signaling molecule attaches to the receptor, activating it.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2025

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