electrolysis

noun

elec·​trol·​y·​sis i-ˌlek-ˈträ-lə-səs 

1

a

: the producing of chemical changes by passage of an electric current through an electrolyte

b

: subjection to this action

2

: the destruction of hair roots by an electrologist using direct current

Examples of electrolysis in a Sentence

She had electrolysis done on her upper lip.

Recent Examples on the Web

Running an electrolysis system directly from seawater can be tricky though, so the test platform also uses the heat generated from the electrolyzers to power an on-board desalinization plant. —New Atlas, 17 July 2025

No one thought about the implications of shooting in seawater and the negative effects of electrolysis. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 20 June 2025

Direct Ocean Capture is another form of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) that uses electrolysis and filters to tackle legacy carbon at scale. —Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

Next, the system uses renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for electrolysis

• fibrinolysis
• radiolysis
• autolysis
• cytolysis
• glycolysis
• haemolysis
• hydrolysis
• lipolysis
• photolysis
• pyrolysis
• thermolysis
• glycogenolysis

Kids Definition

electrolysis

noun

elec·​trol·​y·​sis i-ˌlek-ˈträl-ə-səs 

1

: the producing of chemical changes by passage of an electric current through an electrolyte

2

: the destruction of hair roots with an electric current

Medical Definition

electrolysis

noun

elec·​trol·​y·​sis i-ˌlek-ˈträl-ə-səs 

plural electrolyses -ˌsēz 

1

a

: the process of producing chemical changes by passage of an electric current through an electrolyte

b

: subjection to this action

2

: the destruction of hair roots by an electrologist by means of an electric current applied to the body with a needle-shaped electrode