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photovoltaic

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Etymology and origin of the English word photovoltaic

Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
c. 1889 More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
English photo-,voltaic

Pronunciation

  • UK: /ˌfəʊtə(ʊ)vɒlˈteɪɪk/[1]
  • US: /ˌfoʊdoʊˌvoʊlˈteɪɪk/, /ˌfoʊdoʊˌvɑlˈteɪɪk/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English photo- + voltaic,[1][2][3] as a word of the International Scientific Vocabulary.[4][5] Voltaic is formed from the name of the Italian scientist Alessandro Volta (1745–1827) and -ic.[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Relating to the production of a voltage where two substances meet under light: Merriam-Webster dates the word to about 1889.[4][5] The OED's earliest record is from 1906, in its own first edition at Photo-,[1] Etymonline dates it to 1923,[2] and Dictionary.com to 1920–25.[3]

Semantic evolution

Merriam-Webster Unabridged gives as examples of the substances involved cuprous oxide and copper, or an electrode and an electrolyte,[4] while the Collegiate of 2003 names two different semiconductors.[5] The noun, a photovoltaic device and especially a solar cell, is recorded from 1972,[1] and the plural photovoltaics came to name the field.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1889 – relating to the generation of a voltage by light at the junction of two substances.[4] The OED's first record is from 1906.[1]
  • 1972 – noun, a photovoltaic device, especially a solar cell.[1]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Relating to, using or producing an electric voltage when light or other radiant energy falls on the junction of two different substances: photovoltaic panels on the barn roof.[4][5][6][1]
  2. Able to produce a voltage when exposed to light.[7]

Noun

  1. A photovoltaic device, especially a solar cell.[1]

Word family

  • photovoltaics
  • photovoltaic cell
  • photovoltaic effect

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
  4. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Cite this entry

“Photovoltaic.” Etymologically, 8 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/en/photovoltaic. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·