a positively charged ion; an ion that is attracted to the cathode during electrolysis
Compare anion
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
cat•i•on
(kat′ī′ən, -on),USA pronunciation n. [Physical Chem.]
cat•i•on•ic
(kat′ī on′ik),USA pronunciation adj.
cat′i•on′i•cal•ly, adv.
- Chemistrya positively charged ion that is attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.
- Chemistryany positively charged atom or group of atoms (opposed to anion).
- Greek katión going down (neuter of katió̄n, present participle of kateînai), equivalent. to kat-cat- + -i- go + -on neuter present participle suffix
- 1825–35;
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'cation' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
anion
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- coordination number
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- kation