dispersion

noun

dis·​per·​sion di-ˈspər-zhən 

-shən

1

Dispersion Judaism : diaspora sense 1b

2

: the act or process of dispersing : the state of being dispersed

crowd dispersion

3

mathematics : the scattering of the values of a frequency distribution from an average

4

physics : the separation of light into colors by refraction or diffraction with formation of a spectrum

also : the separation of radiation (see radiation sense 2) into components in accordance with some varying characteristic (such as energy)

5

chemistry

a

: a dispersed (see disperse sense 2c) substance

b

: a system (see system sense 1a(2)) consisting of a dispersed substance and the medium in which it is dispersed : colloid sense 2b

Synonyms of dispersion

• dispersal
• scattering

Examples of dispersion in a Sentence

the dispersion of energy from a source

Recent Examples on the Web

Geographic dispersion might seem inefficient to a company that only considers its typical operating costs. — Todd J. Stein, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

The initiative will bring together computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with digital twins to rapidly model ammonia dispersion following a leak. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

In turn, yields in the credit market are also climbing, and dispersion is broadening. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

But for the average guy, this shaft has tight dispersion, good launch and distance. — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see disperse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dispersion

• aspersion
• aversion
• conversion
• diversion
• eversion
• excursion
• immersion
• incursion
• inversion
• perversion
• recursion
• reversion

Kids Definition

dispersion

noun

dis·​per·​sion dis-ˈpər-zhən 

1

: the act or process of dispersing : the state of being dispersed

2

: the separation of light (as by a prism) into a series of colors

dispersive

-ˈpər-siv, 

-ziv

adjective

Medical Definition

dispersion

noun

dis·​per·​sion dis-ˈpər-zhən, -shən 

1

: the act or process of dispersing : the state of being dispersed

2

: the separation of light into colors by refraction or diffraction with formation of a spectrum

also : the separation of radiation into components in accordance with some varying characteristic (as energy)

3

a

: a dispersed substance

b

: a system consisting of a dispersed substance and the medium in which it is dispersed : colloid sense 2b

called also disperse system