noun

halogen

HAL-uh-jun

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Halogen (noun) means In chemistry, a halogen is any element from group 17 of the periodic table, a group that includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine and tennessine. Example: “Chlorine and iodine are both halogens.”

noun

technical In chemistry, a halogen is any element from group 17 of the periodic table, a group that includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine and tennessine.

"Chlorine and iodine are both halogens."

"The compound formed when a metal reacts with a halogen."

"Fluorine is the lightest of the halogens."

A halogen is also a light fixture whose filament sits inside an atmosphere of halogen gas.

"She switched on the halogen above the kitchen table."

"The garage light is an old halogen that gets very hot."

"We replaced the halogens in the hallway with LED bulbs."

How to use halogen

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA halogen is either one of a family of reactive chemical elements or a type of bright light bulb.

When to use it

The chemistry sense is technical; the light-bulb sense is everyday household vocabulary.

Memory tip

Check the context: in a chemistry text halogen means an element, but around the house it usually means a type of bulb.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

halogen gas halogen lamp halogen bulb group 17 halogens

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “halogen” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Chlorine and iodine are both _____.

Etymology

Halogen was formed from the Ancient Greek word for salt or sea combined with a Greek element meaning to produce. It was coined by the chemist Berzelius in 1842, and reads literally as salt-forming.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Rhymes for halogen

Imogen androgen glycogen hydrogen nitrogen pathogen estrogen oestrogen carcinogen

See all rhymes for halogen →

Frequently asked questions

What elements count as halogens?

The halogens are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine and, by most chemists' reckoning, the superheavy element tennessine.

Why are they called halogens?

The name means salt-forming, because these elements were originally known for reacting with metals to form salts.

What does halogen mean when talking about light bulbs?

A halogen light bulb has a filament surrounded by halogen gas, which is a different sense of the word from the chemistry one.

What is the meaning of halogen?

"halogen" (noun) means in chemistry, a halogen is any element from group 17 of the periodic table, a group that includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine and tennessine.