photochemistry

American

[foh-toh-kem-uh-stree] / ˌfoʊ toʊˈkɛm ə stri /

noun

the branch of chemistry that deals with the chemical action of light.

photochemistry British

/ ˌfəʊtəʊˈkɛmɪstrɪ /

noun

Also called: actinochemistry. the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical effects of light and other electromagnetic radiations

"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

photochemistry Scientific

/ fō′tō-kĕm′ĭ-strē /

The scientific study of the effects of light and ultraviolet radiation on chemical reactions.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of photochemistry

First recorded in 1865–70; photo- + chemistry

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:

photochemistry

"I was just reading about DNA photochemistry – for leisure," she recalls.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

Using light makes it possible to guide reactions with extremely fine control, a field known as photochemistry.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 26, 2025

The complex photochemistry of these tiny particles has outsized, planetary-scale effects.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 26, 2023

The meticulous development process of these photos comes down to photochemistry, the marriage between light and science.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2023

It is agreed by scientists that photochemistry has a promising future.

From Artificial Light Its Influence upon Civilization by Matthew Luckiesh

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