hydrolysis

1 of 2

noun

hy·​dro·​ly·​sis hī-ˈdrä-lə-səs How to pronounce hydrolysis (audio)
: a chemical process of decomposition involving the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion of water
hydrolytic
ˌhī-drə-ˈli-tik How to pronounce hydrolysis (audio)
adjective
hydrolytically
ˌhī-drə-ˈli-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce hydrolysis (audio)
adverb

hydrolytic

2 of 2

adjective

hy·​dro·​lyt·​ic ¦hī-drə-¦li-tik How to pronounce hydrolytic (audio)
: of, relating to, or causing hydrolysis
hydrolytically
¦hī-drə-¦li-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce hydrolytic (audio)
adverb

Examples of hydrolysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The polymer helps create a strong connection between the nerve ends, and subsequently dissolves through hydrolysis. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2025 Partially broken down from collagen through hydrolysis. — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 26 June 2026 When metabolized by the beetles, the spruce sugars are removed through hydrolysis, converting them into aglycones that are even more toxic to microscopic invaders. — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 1 Feb. 2026 Hydrolyzed marine collagen undergoes a process called enzymatic hydrolysis that breaks it down into even smaller particles called collagen peptides. — Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hydrolysis

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary hydr- + -lytic

First Known Use

Noun

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hydrolysis was in 1880

Phrases Containing hydrolysis

Rhymes for hydrolysis

See All Rhymes for hydrolysis

Browse Nearby Words

hydrolysate
hydrolysis
hydrolyte
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hydrolysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrolysis. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hydrolysis

noun
hy·​drol·​y·​sis
hī-ˈdräl-ə-səs
: a process of breaking down a chemical compound that involves splitting a bond and adding the elements of water to the resulting molecular fragments

Medical Definition

hydrolysis

noun
hy·​dro·​ly·​sis hī-ˈdräl-ə-səs, ˌhī-drə-ˈlī- How to pronounce hydrolysis (audio)
: a chemical process of decomposition involving the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion of water
hydrolytic
ˌhī-drə-ˈlit-ik How to pronounce hydrolysis (audio)
adjective
hydrolytically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce hydrolysis (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on hydrolysis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hydrolysis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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