Word
acidity
Phoneticsacid·i·ty
US/əˈsɪdəti/
UK/æsˈɪdɪti/
Definitions
01chemical level
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the amount of acid in a substance, such as soil, water, or a chemical liquid.
n. the chemical state or quality of being acid, typically measured on the pH scale. Uncountable in its general sense; countable when referring to specific levels or instances.
“The gardener tested the soil's acidity to see if it was right for the roses.”
“High levels of ocean acidity can have devastating effects on coral reefs and other marine organisms that rely on calcium carbonate.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02sour taste
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking
n. a sharp, sour, or tart taste in food and drink, like in lemons or coffee.
n. the sharp, tart, or sour sensory quality of a foodstuff or beverage. Often used as a positive attribute in professional tasting contexts like coffee or wine.
“I like this white wine because it has a refreshing acidity.”
“The chef added a squeeze of lime to the dish to balance the richness of the coconut milk with a bit of acidity.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03stomach acid
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Medicine
n. too much acid in your stomach, which can cause a burning feeling.
n. a condition of excessive acid in the gastric secretions, often leading to discomfort or heartburn.
“Eating spicy food late at night often gives him painful acidity.”
“The patient was prescribed antacids to neutralise the excess acidity that was causing chronic indigestion.”
Synonyms
04bitterness in speech
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary
n. a sharp, unkind, or bitter way of speaking or writing.
n. a caustic, biting, or bitter quality in expression or temperament. Figurative use.
“There was a hint of acidity in her voice when she mentioned her rival.”
“The critic's review was marked by an unexpected acidity that seemed more personal than professional.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The sweetness helps round out the acidity for a smooth cup.” “When a coffee lacks acidity, it tastes flat, one-dimensional, and often sweet in a cloying way.” “Whether your aim when brewing is to highlight a coffee’s natural, juicy acidity or avoid nasty sour notes, the good news is that you can.” “And in my experience as a barista, coffee drinkers are always looking for body, along with bright acidity and defined flavors).” Etymology
From French acidité, from Latin aciditātem, accusative singular of aciditās (“sourness, acidity”), from acidus (“sour, acid”). Equivalent to acid + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/acidity