amalgamation

noun

amal·​gam·​ation ə-ˌmal-gə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce amalgamation (audio)
1
a
: the action or process of uniting or merging two or more things : the action or process of amalgamating
an opportunity for the amalgamation of the two companies
b
: the state of being amalgamated
2
: the result of amalgamating : amalgam
Opera is an amalgamation of singing, acting, and stagecraft.
3
: merger

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What is the difference between acculturation, assimilation, and amalgamation?

Acculturation is one of several forms of culture contact, and has a couple of closely related terms, including assimilation and amalgamation. Although all three of these words refer to changes due to contact between different cultures, there are notable differences between them. Acculturation is often tied to political conquest or expansion, and is applied to the process of change in beliefs or traditional practices that occurs when the cultural system of one group displaces that of another. Assimilation refers to the process through which individuals and groups of differing heritages acquire the basic habits, attitudes, and mode of life of an embracing culture. Amalgamation refers to a blending of cultures, rather than one group eliminating another (acculturation) or one group mixing itself into another (assimilation).

Examples of amalgamation in a Sentence

an amalgamation of peat moss and vermiculite is a good medium for starting vegetable seedlings
Recent Examples on the Web The plotless video is an amalgamation of glitchy visuals like floating eyeballs and melting blocks of color. Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 12 Mar. 2024 Investor Relations Information Network (IRIN) An Investor Relations Information Network or IRIN is an amalgamation of a company’s financial records. Jacob Wolinsky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Easing the Post-Merger Culture Clash In these days of corporate consolidation, mergers inevitably require the amalgamation of teams from different cultures with distinctly different work ethics. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024 Global Music Movements: A Melting Pot The phenomenon of K-pop, spearheaded by groups like BTS, exemplifies this global amalgamation. Anto Dotcom, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2023 Clearly, Davis is an amalgamation of several characters from the Greenwich Village folk music scene of the early-1960s, but his unfortunate split in the film with his writing partner — who performed with him as Timlin & Davis — complicates things. Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2024 Well, the word itself is an amalgamation of glamour and camping. Blair Brown, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The indie pop trio’s limitless sound is an amalgamation of genres beloved by producer Mike de la Rosa and his twin brothers Milton and Emilio. Spin Staff, SPIN, 22 Jan. 2024 The album is an amalgamation of memories, references, and stories that transport Puerto Rico’s millennials to their childhoods, feeling an unmatched akin to its author, the young choir kid who is now a mover in the world stage. Frances Solá-Santiago, Rolling Stone, 24 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amalgamation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin amalgamātiōn-, amalgamātiō "combining of a metal with mercury," from amalgamāre "to combine (a metal) with mercury, amalgamate" + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of amalgamation was in 1775

Dictionary Entries Near amalgamation

Cite this Entry

“Amalgamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amalgamation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

amalgamation

noun
amal·​gam·​ation ə-ˌmal-gə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce amalgamation (audio)
1
a
: the act or process of amalgamating
made by the amalgamation of mercury with silver
b
: the state of being amalgamated
2
: a combination of different elements into a single body

More from Merriam-Webster on amalgamation

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