SublimationA process with two distinct uses in science and psychology. has two very different meanings. In science, it refers to a substance changing from a solid straight into a gas. In psychology, it means redirectingSending an impulse or feeling toward another action or direction. an impulse into a socially acceptableConsidered okay or suitable by other people or society. form.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌsʌbləˈmeɪʃən/
Easy pronunciation: sub-luh-MAY-shən (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the third syllable, MAY.
Used here in the chemistry sense: a direct change from solid to gas.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sublimation Meaning
When something like dry ice turns from solid to gas.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A change directly from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid first.
Example: Dry ice undergoes sublimation at room temperature.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Sublimation
Meaning 2
Turning a strong feeling or urge into something acceptable or productive.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: The process of redirecting an impulse, especially a sexual one, into a form that is socially acceptable.
Example: He channelled his aggression into competitive sport as a form of sublimation.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sublimation Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- none found in supplied data
psychology: redirecting an impulse into a socially acceptable form
- channeling
- redirection
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People often mix up the chemistry meaning and the psychology meaning, but they are unrelated senses.
- Sublimation in chemistry is not the same as evaporation, because sublimation skips the liquid stage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sublimation mean?
Sublimation can mean a substance changing directly from a solid to a gas, or it can mean redirecting an impulse into a socially acceptable form.
What is the science meaning of sublimation?
In chemistry, sublimation is when a solid turns directly into a gas without first becoming liquid.
What is the psychology meaning of sublimation?
In psychology, sublimation is the process of channeling an instinct or impulse into an acceptable activity or expression.
What are synonyms for sublimation?
No strong direct synonyms were supplied for the chemistry sense. In the psychology sense, close related terms include channeling and redirection, but they are not perfect one-word replacements in every context.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.