repulsion

American  

[ri-puhl-shuhn] / rɪˈpʌl ʃən /

noun

1. the act of repulsing or the state of being repulsed.

2. the feeling of being repelled, as by the thought or presence of something; distaste, repugnance, or aversion.

3. Physics. the force that acts between bodies of like electric charge or magnetic polarity, tending to separate them.

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repulsion British  

/ rɪˈpʌlʃən /

noun

1. a feeling of disgust or aversion

2. physics a force tending to separate two objects, such as the force between two like electric charges or magnetic poles

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Other Word Forms

• interrepulsion noun

Etymology

Origin of repulsion

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Medieval Latin repulsiōn- (stem of Late Latin repulsiō ), equivalent to Latin repuls ( us ) ( repulse ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The researchers also found that spreading ions across many channels reduces the strong electrical repulsion that occurs when large numbers of similarly charged particles are packed into a small space.

From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2026

Polling data backs up this anecdotal display of repulsion towards racist violence.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

I hate sleeping in other people’s beds and can’t fathom spending all day with a man without developing at least one repulsion to him.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2024

These insulators, known as Mott insulators, occur when electrons become frozen because of strong repulsion they feel from other electrons nearby, preventing them from carrying a current.

From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2024

He waited for the elf to admire the family tradition, but Brangwain Spurge just stared with repulsion at Werfel’s deflated past faces.

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin