voltaic

adjective

vol·​ta·​ic väl-ˈtā-ik How to pronounce voltaic (audio)
vōl-, 
vȯl-
: of, relating to, or producing direct electric current by chemical action (as in a battery) : galvanic
voltaic cell

Examples of voltaic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Today, City Labs uses it for beta-voltaic batteries, heat sources, and future propulsion concepts. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 Humphry Davy later used a large voltaic pile to isolate a number of elements, including potassium, sodium, calcium, strontium, and barium. — IEEE Spectrum, 31 Aug. 2026 On the roof, photo-voltaic panels, water tanks, and generators have been reimagined as functional sculptural objects by Belgian painter Pieter Vermeersch. — Siobhan Reid, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2025 Weekly Newsletter Historian Joost Mertens argues that the voltaic pile was primarily important as a demonstration for others, since Volta was already convinced of his own theory from previous experiments. — Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for voltaic

Word History

Etymology

Alessandro Volta

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of voltaic was in 1812

Rhymes for voltaic

See All Rhymes for voltaic

Browse Nearby Words

voltage regulator
voltaic
voltaic couple
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Voltaic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voltaic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

voltaic

adjective
vol·​ta·​ic väl-ˈtā-ik How to pronounce voltaic (audio)
vōl-, 
vȯl-
: of, relating to, or producing direct electric current by chemical action (as in a battery) : galvanic
voltaic cell
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All