English Reference

Word

cryogenic

Phoneticscryo·genic

US/ˈkɹaɪəˌdʒɛnɪk/

UK/kɹˌaɪəʊdʒˈɛnɪk/

Definition

adj. relating to very low temperatures, usually below -150 degrees Celsius. You use this to describe things like freezing food or keeping medical samples safe.

adj. relating to or denoting the production of extremely low temperatures, typically below -150°C. Often used in scientific, medical, or industrial contexts to describe storage or preservation methods.

Examples

“The lab uses cryogenic storage for the rare samples.”

“Cryogenic freezing is a common method for preserving biological tissues and seeds for long periods.”

“Advancements in cryogenic engineering have allowed researchers to study superconductivity at temperatures that were previously impossible to maintain in a laboratory setting.”

Examples

simple

“The lab uses cryogenic storage for the rare samples.”

contextual

“Cryogenic freezing is a common method for preserving biological tissues and seeds for long periods.”

complex

“Advancements in cryogenic engineering have allowed researchers to study superconductivity at temperatures that were previously impossible to maintain in a laboratory setting.”

Real-World Examples

“Earth's turbulent atmosphere distorts light, and the necessary cryogenic cooling systems are large, heavy and consume massive amounts of electrical power.”
Phys.org · 14 Sept 2026
“Until now, a wave-based form of heat transport called phonon focusing had only been observed at extremely low cryogenic temperatures, which made it difficult to study and limited its potential applications.”
ScienceDaily · 7 Aug 2026

Etymology

From cryo- + -genic.

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

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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