amalgamation

noun

amal·​gam·​ation ə-ˌmal-gə-ˈmā-shən 

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

Did you know?

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).

Synonyms

• admixture
• alloy
• amalgam
• blend
• cocktail
• combination
• composite
• compound
• conflation
• emulsion
• fusion
• intermixture
• meld
• mix
• mixture
• synthesis

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 character is an amalgamation of Joe Rogan and Russell Brand. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 13 Dec. 2024

The record’s new-wave ditties are an amalgamation of strange but immediately identifiable components, chimeras of ’60s pop à la Lesley Gore and the frenzied shred of a skateboarding compilation. —Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024

But there’s one that has caught the attention of genre veterans for offering an amalgamation of mechanics that lead to an absurd degree of character progression possibilities: 2013’s Path of Exile — an ambitious, free-to-play take on the genre that has been in constant evolution for over a decade. —Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024

And with their amalgamation of talents, the clever clogs at CIES Football Observatory have valued Real Madrid’s squad at €1.8billion. —Richard Amofa, The Athletic, 26 July 2024

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

Kids Definition

amalgamation

noun

amal·​gam·​ation ə-ˌmal-gə-ˈmā-shən 

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