valence
noun
va·lence
| \ ˈvā-lən(t)s
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Definition of valence
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: the degree of combining power of an element as shown by the number of atomic weights of a monovalent element (such as hydrogen) with which the atomic weight of the element will combine or for which it can be substituted or with which it can be compared
2a
: relative capacity to unite, react, or interact (as with antigens or a biological substrate)
b
[ in part from valence in chemistry, in part borrowed from Late Latin valentia "power, capacity," noun derivative of Latin valent-, valens, present participle of valēre "to have strength, be well" — more at wield ]
: the degree of attractiveness an individual, activity, or thing possesses as a behavioral goal
the relative potency of the valences of success and failure— Leon Festinger
Valence
geographical name
Va·lence
| \ va-ˈläⁿs
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Definition of Valence (Entry 2 of 2)
commune in southeastern France south of Lyon population 63,405
Examples of valence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
There may even be implications for understanding eating disorders because food’s valence may be connected to the guilt experienced in conditions like anorexia. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, "A Matter of Taste: Can a Sweet Tooth Be Switched Off in the Brain?," 30 May 2018 Three common objections to a meat tax Many in the US vehemently oppose taxes on soda, even though the sugary drinks don’t have the all-American emotional valence that a barbecue does. — Sigal Samuel, Vox, "We put a “sin tax” on cigarettes and alcohol. Why not meat?," 11 Aug. 2019 Iceberg calving, on the other hand, in the age of our ever-warming planet, carries a completely different valence. — Elizabeth Rush, National Geographic, "Here's what Antarctica's calving glaciers look like up close," 12 Mar. 2019 What matters to Trump’s base is that Trump himself approves of you; the actual ideological valence of your foreign policy positions is relatively secondary by comparison. — Zack Beauchamp, Vox, "How Nikki Haley played the White House game — and won," 9 Oct. 2018 According to one study, between 2015 and 2017, more professors were fired for left-wing political speech that offended someone than speech with a right-wing valence. — Zack Beauchamp, Vox, "Milo Yiannopoulos’s collapse shows that no-platforming can work," 5 Dec. 2018 This time around, there was a different divide — both in terms of the people involved, as Bannon and McMaster are both gone, and the valence of the options under discussion. — Zack Beauchamp, Vox, "The bombing of Syria reveals just how fundamentally incoherent Trump’s foreign policy is.," 17 Apr. 2018 These results show the amygdala is central to determining the valence of tastes. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, "A Matter of Taste: Can a Sweet Tooth Be Switched Off in the Brain?," 30 May 2018 But Samantha remained uncompromising, casting doubt on the de facto valence of negativity that’s layered onto female selfishness. — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "Long Live Samantha Jones," 6 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'valence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for valence
valence
noun
English Language Learners Definition of valence
chemistry
: the amount of power of an atom which is determined by the number of electrons the atom will lose, gain, or share when it forms compounds
See the full definition for valence in the English Language Learners Dictionary
valence
noun
va·lence
| \ ˈvā-lən(t)s
\
\
Medical Definition of valence
1a
: the degree of combining power of an element or radical as shown by the number of atomic weights of a monovalent element (as hydrogen) with which the atomic weight of the element or the partial molecular weight of the radical will combine or for which it can be substituted or with which it can be compared
b
: a unit of valence
the four valences of carbon
2a
: relative capacity to unite, react, or interact (as with antigens or a biological substrate)
b
: the degree of attractiveness an individual, activity, or object possesses as a behavioral goal
the relative potency of the valences of success and failure— Leon Festinger
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