photovoltaic

American  

[foh-toh-vol-tay-ik, -vohl-] / ˌfoʊ toʊ vɒlˈteɪ ɪk, -voʊl- /

adjective

Electricity.

1. of or relating to the photovoltaic effect.

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photovoltaic British  

/ ˌfəʊtəʊvɒlˈteɪɪk /

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or producing electric current or voltage caused by electromagnetic radiation, esp visible light from the sun

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photovoltaic Scientific  

/ fō′tō-vŏl-tā′ĭk,-vōl- /

1. Capable of producing a voltage, usually through photoemission, when exposed to radiant energy, especially light.

2. See more at photoelectric solar cell

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Etymology

Origin of photovoltaic

First recorded in 1920–25; photo- + voltaic

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

photovoltaic

The success of solar power, particularly the installation of photovoltaic panels on homes and businesses, has created sharp fluctuations in electricity supply, which often exceeds demand during daylight hours.

From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026

Dhawan further said technologies such as solar cooking systems - including solar cookers as well as solar photovoltaic systems connected to electric cooking devices - can reduce dependence on fossil fuels for household energy needs.

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026

This reversed architecture offers high power conversion potential and works well with solution based processing methods suited for large scale production, making it an appealing photovoltaic design.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 1, 2026

The mirror-and-tower technology that once seemed so promising was outpaced by flat photovoltaic solar panels, which soon proved cheaper and more efficient and became the industry standard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2026

“These grass blades are our photovoltaic panels,” he says.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

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