What does "irradiation" mean?
An act of irradiating, or state of being irradiated.; a process of sterilization whereby radiation is passed through a bag containing food, utensils, etc., to sterilize the contents.
Irradiation
/ɪˌɹeɪdiˈeɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An act of irradiating, or state of being irradiated.; a process of sterilization whereby radiation is passed through a bag containing food, utensils, etc., to sterilize the contents.
- Grammar: irradiation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: radiation therapy, actinotherapy, anhydration, arc lighting.
- Useful contrasts: no exposure, no treatment, nonirradiation.
- Usage evidence: Red Light Irradiation was a word that was used on a daily basis in the GDR.
How to use "irradiation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "irradiation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "irradiation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "irradiation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "irradiation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "irradiation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "radiation therapy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "irradiation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An act of irradiating, or state of being irradiated.; a process of sterilization whereby radiation is passed through a bag containing food, utensils, etc., to sterilize the contents. uncountable
- 2 (medicine) the treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to a radioactive substance wordnet
- 3 An act of irradiating, or state of being irradiated.; Synonym of radiotherapy. countable, uncountable
- 4 (Pavolvian conditioning) the elicitation of a conditioned response by stimulation similar but not identical to the original stimulus wordnet
- 5 illumination; irradiance; brilliance. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 the apparent enlargement of a bright object when viewed against a dark background wordnet
- 7 mental light or illumination. countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable
- 8 (physiology) the spread of sensory neural impulses in the cortex wordnet
- 9 The apparent enlargement of a bright object seen upon a dark ground, due to the fact that the portions of the retina around the image are stimulated by the intense light; as when a dark spot on a white ground appears smaller, or a white spot on a dark ground larger, than it really is, especially when a little out of focus. countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 10 a column of light (as from a beacon) wordnet
- 11 the condition of being exposed to radiation wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Red Light Irradiation was a word that was used on a daily basis in the GDR."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "irradiation"?
Common synonyms include: radiation therapy, actinotherapy, anhydration, arc lighting, beam, beam of light.
How do you use "irradiation" in a sentence?
Red Light Irradiation was a word that was used on a daily basis in the GDR.
How do you pronounce "irradiation"?
Pronounced /ɪˌɹeɪdiˈeɪʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle French irradiacion, from Latin irradiatio. Morphologically irradiate + -ion.