Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

dephlogisticate

verb

/ˌdiːflɒdʒɪsˈteɪt/

Definition

To remove phlogiston from a substance; a term used in historical chemistry.

Examples

The chemist aimed to dephlogisticate the sample to understand its true composition.
In the 18th century, scientists would attempt to dephlogisticate metals to study their reactions in fire.

Meaning

Dephlogisticate refers to the act of eliminating the hypothetical fluid ‘phlogiston’ from a material, based on an outdated theory that explained combustion and oxidation.