saturation
noun
sat·u·ra·tion
ˌsa-chə-ˈrā-shən 
1
a
: the act of saturating : the state of being saturated
2
: conversion of an unsaturated to a saturated chemical compound (as by hydrogenation)
3
: a state of maximum impregnation: such as
a
: complete infiltration : permeation
b
: the presence in air of the most water possible under existent pressure and temperature
c
: magnetization to the point beyond which a further increase in the intensity of the magnetizing force will produce no further magnetization
4
a
: chromatic purity : freedom from dilution with white
b(1)
: degree of difference from the gray having the same lightness
—used of an object color
(2)
: degree of difference from the achromatic light-source color of the same brightness
—used of a light-source color
compare hue sense 2c
5
: the supplying of a market with as much of a product as it will absorb
6
: an overwhelming concentration of military forces or firepower
Examples of saturation in a Sentence
Heavy rains resulted in the saturation of the soil.
the saturation of advertising on television
Recent Examples on the Web
While millennials chased minimalism—think capsule wardrobes and beige apartments—Gen Z is turning up the color saturation.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Playing with sizing is key to adding dimension to your Christmas tree and these darling miniature ornaments offer a rainbow of colors to dial up the saturation on your tree.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025
The streaming price hikes come as the market deals with saturation, and with every player in the space now pursuing profitability rather than scale.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
Garcia also warned of the danger of over-saturation, adding that artists have to be very deliberate with their output and touring strategies to avoid getting lost in an increasingly crowded space.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saturation
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Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Playing with sizing is key to adding dimension to your Christmas tree and these darling miniature ornaments offer a rainbow of colors to dial up the saturation on your tree.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025
The streaming price hikes come as the market deals with saturation, and with every player in the space now pursuing profitability rather than scale.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
Garcia also warned of the danger of over-saturation, adding that artists have to be very deliberate with their output and touring strategies to avoid getting lost in an increasingly crowded space.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saturation
Cite this Entry
“Saturation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saturation. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
saturation
noun
sat·u·ra·tion
ˌsach-ə-ˈrā-shən
1
: the act or process of saturating
2
: the state of being saturated
Medical Definition
saturation
noun
sat·u·ra·tion
ˌsach-ə-ˈrā-shən
1
: the act of saturating : the state of being saturated
2
: conversion of an unsaturated to a saturated chemical compound (as by hydrogenation)
3
: a state of maximum impregnation
especially
: the presence in air of the most water possible under existent pressure and temperature
4
a
: the one of the three psychological dimensions of color perception that is related to the purity of the color and that decreases as the amount of white present in the stimulus increases
called also intensity
compare brightness, hue
b(1)
: degree of difference from the gray having the same lightness
—used of an object color
(2)
: degree of difference from the achromatic light-source color of the same brightness
—used of a light-source color
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