galvanism

noun

gal·​va·​nism ˈgal-və-ˌni-zəm 

1

: a direct current of electricity especially when produced by chemical action

2

: the therapeutic use of direct electric current (as for pain relief)

3

: vital or forceful activity

Examples of galvanism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inspired by galvanism—an idea made famous by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein—Alessandro Volta stacked some zinc and copper discs with cardboard in-between, stuck it in some saltwater, and prototyped a technology that today still underpins much of our lives. —Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

Writing her imaginary story of a being jolted to life by Victor Frankenstein, Mary drew on the cutting-edge science of her time, including galvanism and electricity. —The Economist, 17 Feb. 2018

Instead galvanism led to life-saving interventions—the pacemaker and the defibrillator among them. —Charles Kenny, Slate Magazine, 16 Jan. 2017

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French galvanisme, from Luigi galvani (who conducted pioneering experiments in bioelectricity) + -isme -ism

Note: The French words galvanisme and galvaniser were apparently introduced by Alexander von humboldt in a letter, dated January 24, 1796 ("Lettre de F. Humboldt à M. Pictet … sur lʼinfluence de lʼacide muriatique oxygené et sur lʼirritabilité de la fibre organisée, lue a lʼInstitut national"), published in the Magasin encyclopédique, ou Journal des sciences, des lettres et des arts (Lʼan quatrième [1795],) pp. 462-72. In a footnote Humboldt states "Les mots de galvanisme, galvaniser, dont je me sert, sont formés dʼaprès ceux de magnétisme, magnétiser. Ils sont recommendables pour sa briéveté." ("The words galvanism, galvanize, which I make use of, are modeled on magnetism, magnetize. They are commendable for their conciseness.")

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

galvanism

noun

gal·​va·​nism ˈgal-və-ˌniz-əm 

1

: a direct current of electricity especially when produced by chemical action (as in a storage battery)

2

: the therapeutic use of direct electric current (as to relieve pain)