chromatism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “chromatism” mean?
The state of being coloured.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of being coloured; specifically, abnormal colouration.
1. The intensity or variation of colour in an object, especially in optical systems. 2. In biology/medicine: abnormal pigmentation or colouration of tissues. 3. In music: the use of notes foreign to the mode or diatonic scale.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling differences. Both varieties use the same term.
Connotations
Equally technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both, but marginally more frequent in British technical writing due to historical optics literature.
Grammar
How to Use “chromatism” in a Sentence
[chromatism] of [noun phrase][adjective] chromatismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chromatism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The system was designed to correct for the chromatic aberrations.
American English
- The lens chromatises the image slightly.
adverb
British English
- The light was dispersed chromaticaly across the spectrum.
American English
- The image blurred chromaticaly at the edges.
adjective
British English
- The chromatic effect was quite pronounced.
American English
- A chromatic shift was observable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in specialised fields: Optics (physics), Biology, Music Theory.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would confuse most listeners.
Technical
Primary domain. Refers to colour distortion in lenses or abnormal biological pigmentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chromatism”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chromatism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chromatism”
- Confusing it with 'chromaticity' (the quality of a colour) or 'chromatography' (a separation technique). Incorrectly using it to mean simply 'vivid colour'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In optics, 'chromatic aberration' is the specific phenomenon of colour fringing. 'Chromatism' is the more general term for the state or condition of being coloured, which can encompass the aberration.
No, it is a specialised technical term. Using it in casual conversation would be obscure and likely misunderstood.
In optics, yes, it's an imperfection. In biology, it's a neutral descriptive term for colouration. In music, it's a stylistic technique, neither inherently positive nor negative.
Optics and lens design, where it refers to the failure of a lens to focus all colours to the same convergence point, causing colour fringes.
The state of being coloured.
Chromatism is usually technical/scientific in register.
Chromatism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrəʊmətɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkroʊmətɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none applicable for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CHROMAtism = CHROMA (colour) + ism (condition/state). It's the 'state of being coloured'.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLOUR IS A DEVIATION (in its optical sense, chromatism is an unwanted deviation from perfect colourless focus).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would 'chromatism' LEAST likely be used?