Word.ws English Dictionary

amphipathic

UK/ˌam.fɪˈpaθ.ɪk//ˌæm.fəˈpæ.θɪk/

amphipathic adjective: describing a molecule, such as a detergent, which has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups.

Adjective

amphipathic (not comparable)

  1. Describing a molecule, such as a detergent, which has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups.
  2. Of the surface(s) on a protein, particularly an alpha helix, where one surface of the alpha helix has hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite face has hydrophobic (or lipophilic) amino acids.

Synonyms of amphipathic

Origin of amphipathic

From amphi- + Ancient Greek παθικός (pathikós, “remaining passive in a sexual intercourse”), from Ancient Greek ἀμφί (amphí, “on both sides”).

Words formed from amphipathic

Words that rhyme with amphipathic

Questions about amphipathic

What does amphipathic mean?
Amphipathic means describing a molecule, such as a detergent, which has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups.
What part of speech is amphipathic?
Amphipathic is an adjective.
How do you pronounce amphipathic?
Amphipathic is pronounced /ˌam.fɪˈpaθ.ɪk/ (UK).

Words near amphipathic in the dictionary

  1. Amphion
  2. amphioxi
  3. amphioxus
  4. amphioxuses
  5. amphipath
  6. amphipathic
  7. amphipathically
  8. amphipathicities
  9. amphipathicity
  10. amphipaths
  11. amphipathy

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: amphipathic (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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