sublimation

American  

[suhb-luh-may-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

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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. ); see sublimate ( def. )

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Explanation

When anything solid turns into a gas without first becoming liquid, that’s sublimation. When the surface layer of snow or ice turns into fog or steam without melting, this is an example of sublimation. The noun sublimation is from the Latin word sublimare, meaning “to raise a higher status.” In the field of mental health, sublimation helps people who have urges that, if acted on, are self-destructive or dangerous to others. They are taught how to direct that energy into something productive like creating art, exercising, or otherwise finding an outlet to take mind off of problematic thoughts.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sublimation

Some of that snow was also lost through sublimation, when ice turns directly into water vapor, and through strong winds that swept snow away.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

But for Kusama, art wasn’t a path chosen for fame and fortune; art was a sublimation and a salve for her compulsive tendencies and psychotic episodes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

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

Readers will understandably recoil at the musician’s callousness, especially given Mintz’s sublimation of himself in the service of Lennon and Ono.

From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2024

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

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

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Related Words

• reticence
• self-consciousness
• shyness

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