# ITO

/ˈiˌtoʊ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ito
Updated: 2026-05-10

## Definition

Stands for indium tin oxide. A clear material that conducts electricity and is used to make touchscreens and solar panels.

For teachers: Abbreviation for indium tin oxide. A ternary composition of indium, tin, and oxygen that serves as a transparent conducting oxide. Often used in thin-film form for optoelectronic applications.

## Examples

- Most smartphone screens use a thin layer of ITO to detect touch.
- The manufacturer switched to a different substrate because the cost of ITO had risen significantly due to indium scarcity.
- While ITO remains the industry standard for transparent electrodes, its inherent brittleness makes it less suitable for the emerging market of flexible electronic displays.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.