galvanic
5 synonyms for galvanic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Relating to electricity produced by a chemical reaction.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
galvanical
galvanising
galvanizing
voltaic
How to use galvanic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
galvanic reaction
galvanic effect
galvanic current
galvanic response
It turns up mostly in technical writing about electrochemistry or in figurative descriptions of a startling, energising effect.
Etymology
Galvanic entered English from French galvanique. The French word honours the Italian physiologist Luigi Galvani, who lived from 1737 to 1798 and whose name gave rise to the whole family of galvanism-related words.
Full origin of galvanic →Frequently asked questions
What does galvanic mean?
It describes something to do with electricity generated by a chemical reaction, or, more loosely, something that jolts people into sudden energetic action.
Where does the word galvanic come from?
It comes from French galvanique, named after the Italian physiologist Luigi Galvani, who studied the electrical effects behind muscle contractions.
Is galvanic the same as galvanize?
They are closely related: galvanize is the verb for jolting something into action or coating metal electrically, while galvanic is the adjective describing that electric or energising quality.
