quantization

American  

[kwahnt-ahy-zay-shuhn, -uh-zay-shuhn] / ˌkwɑnt aɪˈzeɪ ʃən, -əˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

plural

quantizations

1. Mathematics. the restriction of a variable quantity to discrete values rather than to a continuous set of values.

2. Physics. the process of changing the description of a physical system from classical to quantum-mechanical, usually resulting in discrete values for observable quantities, such as energy or angular momentum.

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Other Word Forms

• dequantization
  noun
• prequantization
  noun
• requantization
  noun

Example Sentences

When an electric field is applied, it changes the orientation of each atom's quantization axis.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

While high-dimensional vectors can be compressed through vector quantization, that technique comes with its own memory issues as it requires calculating and storing additional data, “partially defeating the purpose of vector quantization,” Google said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

The theory explained why electrons inside atoms occupy only certain allowed energy levels, a phenomenon known as quantization.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

Using the quantization of oscillators, Planck was able to correctly describe the experimentally known shape of the blackbody spectrum.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Detailed treatment of space quantization began to explain some complexities of atomic spectra, but certain patterns seemed to be caused by something else.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015