# chemistry

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɛm.ɪ.stɹi/ · frequency rank #3,931

## Definitions
1. The branch of natural science that deals with the composition and constitution of substances and the changes that they undergo as a consequence of alterations in the constitution of their molecules.
2. An application of chemical theory and method to a particular substance.
3. The chemical properties and reactions of a particular organism, environment etc.
4. The mutual attraction between two people; rapport.
5. A blood test to measure the amount of various components of the serum (such as electrolytes, creatinine, and glucose).

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew-
Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥
Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)
Ancient Greek χῠ́μᾰ (khŭ́mă)
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂
Proto-Hellenic *-íā
Ancient Greek -ία (-ía)
Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)bor.
Arabic الْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ)bor.
Medieval Latin alchēmia
▲
Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)influ.
New Latin chimiabor.
Middle French chymie
French chimie
Proto-Indo-European *-id-
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti
Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō
Ancient Greek -ίζω (-ízō)
Proto-Hellenic *-tās
Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs)
Ancient Greek -ιστής (-istḗs)der.
Latin -istabor.
French -iste
French chimistebor.
English chemist
English -ry
English chemistry
First coined 1605, from chemist + -ry. From chemist, chymist, from Latin alchimista, from Arabic اَلْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ), from article اَل (al-) + Ancient Greek χυμεία (khumeía, “art of alloying metals”), from χύμα (khúma, “fluid”), from χυμός (khumós, “juice”), from χέω (khéō, “to pour”).

## Easily confused with
- **chemist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chemist-vs-chemistry)

## Common misspellings (15)
`cchemistry`, `cehmistry`, `cheimstry`, `chemisrty`, `chemisstry`, `chemistrry`, `chemistryy`, `chemisttry`, `chemistyr`, `chemitsry`, `chemmistry`, `chemsitry`, `chhemistry`, `chmeistry`, `hcemistry`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/chemistry