sublimation

American  

[suhb-luh-mey-shuhn] / ˌsʌb ləˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. Psychology. the diversion of the energy of a sexual or other biological impulse from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.

2. Chemistry. the act, fact, or process of subliming.

3. a purification or refinement; ennoblement.

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sublimation British  

/ ˌsʌblɪˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. (in Freudian psychology) the diversion of psychic energy derived from sexual impulses into nonsexual activity, esp of a creative nature

2. the process or an instance of sublimating

3. something sublimated

4. chem the process or instance or subliming

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sublimation Scientific  

/ sŭb′lə-mā′shən /

1. The process of changing from a solid to a gas without passing through an intermediate liquid phase. Carbon dioxide, at a pressure of one atmosphere, sublimates at about −78 degrees Celsius. Ice and snow on the Earth's surface also sublimate at temperatures below the freezing point of water.

2. Compare deposition

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sublimation ¹ Cultural  

1. In chemistry, the direct conversion of a solid into a gas, without passage through a liquid stage. (See phases of matter.)

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sublimation ² Cultural  

1. In Freudian psychology, a defense mechanism by which the individual satisfies a socially prohibited instinctive drive (usually sexual or aggressive) through the substitution of socially acceptable behavior. For example, someone with strong sexual drives who paints nude portraits may be engaging in sublimation.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsublimation noun
• resublimation noun
• sublimational adjective

Etymology

Origin of sublimation

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle French, from Late Latin sublimation-, stem of sublimatio “elevation,” equivalent to Latin sublimāt(us), past participle of sublimāre “to elevate” + -iō -ion ( def. ); sublimate ( def. )

Example Sentences

Ajami pointed out that extreme heat is not only causing snow to melt faster but is also causing sublimation, in which snow is transformed directly to water vapor.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

Because Mars has a thin atmosphere and a sharp temperature difference between warm sand and the ice, the underside of these blocks instantly turns to gas in a process known as sublimation.

From Science Daily • Oct. 16, 2025

But the quality of her performance depends on how deeply she can sink into the role, and Nikki will do anything — consciously or otherwise — to achieve utter sublimation, and, in turn, total perfection.

From Salon • Jan. 25, 2025

But different comets are made of different mixes of ice, and sublimation can be a quirky process.

From Scientific American • Jun. 26, 2023

I lost 300 liters to sublimation when the Hab blew up.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• reticence
• self-consciousness
• shyness