English Reference

Word

adhesion

Phoneticsad·he·sion

US/ædˈhiʒən/

UK/ɐdhˈiːʒən/

Definitions

01sticking to a surface

C1 · Science

n. the ability of a substance, like glue or tape, to stick to a different surface.

n. the physical property of a substance to stick to an unlike substance through molecular attraction.

“The new glue provides strong adhesion even on wet surfaces.”

“Engineers tested the adhesion of the new coating under extreme temperatures to ensure it would not peel away from the metal hull.”

Technical

Synonyms

stickinessattachmentbond

02medical tissue growth

C1 · Medicine

n. a band of scar tissue that joins two parts of the body together that are usually separate.

n. an abnormal union of surfaces by the formation of new tissue, typically resulting from inflammation or surgical trauma.

“After his stomach surgery, he developed an adhesion that caused some pain.”

“Post-operative adhesions can lead to complications such as bowel obstructions if the fibrous bands restrict organ movement.”

Technical

Synonyms

03grip or friction

C1

n. the grip that a tyre or shoe has on a surface to prevent sliding.

n. the frictional grip of a body, such as a wheel or shoe, on a surface.

“The rain on the track reduced the car's adhesion, making it hard to turn.”

“Locomotives require significant weight over the driving wheels to maintain sufficient adhesion on steep gradients during icy conditions.”

Technical

Antonyms

04loyalty or support

C2

n. the act of continuing to support a particular idea, group, or belief.

n. steady or persistent attachment to a cause, principle, or party.

“The leader thanked the members for their long adhesion to the party's goals.”

“The diplomat's unwavering adhesion to the treaty's original terms prevented the negotiations from collapsing during the crisis.”

Formal

Real-World Examples

“The polydopamine coating also enabled strong, ligand-independent bacterial adhesion, allowing localized antibiotic release directly at the infection site.”
Phys.org · 15 Sept 2026
“This class of materials has huge potential for application, thanks to its self-healing properties, ability to respond to stimuli, 3D printability, underwater adhesion features, degradability and recyclability.”
Phys.org · 26 Aug 2026

Etymology

From French adhésion, from Latin stem of adhaesio, from past participle of adhaerare.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Domain

Medicine

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/adhesion

English Reference