sublimation
Americannoun
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Psychology. the diversion of the energy of a sexual or other biological impulse from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.
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Chemistry. the act, fact, or process of subliming.
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a purification or refinement; ennoblement.
noun
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(in Freudian psychology) the diversion of psychic energy derived from sexual impulses into nonsexual activity, esp of a creative nature
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the process or an instance of sublimating
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something sublimated
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chem the process or instance or subliming
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The process of changing from a solid to a gas without passing through an intermediate liquid phase. Carbon dioxide, at a pressure of one atmosphere, sublimates at about −78 degrees Celsius. Ice and snow on the Earth's surface also sublimate at temperatures below the freezing point of water.
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Compare deposition
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sublimation
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle French, from Late Latin sublimation-, stem of sublimatio “elevation,” equivalent to Latin sublimāt(us), past participle of sublimāre “to elevate” + -iō -ion ( def. ); see sublimate ( def. )
Explanation
When anything solid turns into a gas without first becoming liquid, that’s sublimation. When the surface layer of snow or ice turns into fog or steam without melting, this is an example of sublimation. The noun sublimation is from the Latin word sublimare, meaning “to raise a higher status.” In the field of mental health, sublimation helps people who have urges that, if acted on, are self-destructive or dangerous to others. They are taught how to direct that energy into something productive like creating art, exercising, or otherwise finding an outlet to take mind off of problematic thoughts.
Vocabulary lists containing sublimation
Earth Science - Middle School
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Structure and Properties of Matter - Middle School
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The Water Cycle - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ajami pointed out that extreme heat is not only causing snow to melt faster but is also causing sublimation, in which snow is transformed directly to water vapor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 15, 2026
But the quality of her performance depends on how deeply she can sink into the role, and Nikki will do anything — consciously or otherwise — to achieve utter sublimation, and, in turn, total perfection.
From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2025
This continuous cycle of sublimation and condensation through vertical transport is responsible for the enduring presence of sand clouds in WASP-107b's atmosphere.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 15, 2023
But when one approaches the inner solar system, sunlight turns some of a comet’s ice into gas in a process called sublimation, forming a fuzzy, glowing cloud called a coma.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 26, 2023
Sigmund Freud, the founder of modern psychiatry, conceived of art primarily in terms of sublimation outside of consciousness.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
