antifogmatic
|an-ti-fog-mat-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.fɑɡˈmætɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.fɒɡˈmætɪk/
removes fog (literal or mental)
Etymology
'antifogmatic' originates from English, formed from the prefix 'anti-' + the noun 'fog' + the suffix '-matic' (modeled on adjectives like 'dogmatic' or 'automatic'), coined as a compound in the 19th century to mean a thing that counteracts fog or fogginess.
'antifogmatic' was coined in the 1800s (used sometimes humorously as a 'tonic' to clear the head). Over time the element 'anti-' + 'fog' produced related literal uses (e.g., anti‑fog agents and coatings) in the 20th century, giving the word both figurative (restorative) and literal (anti‑condensation) senses.
Initially used chiefly in a jocular or figurative sense for a restorative that 'cleared the fog' of the head; later the term or related formations were used more literally for chemical coatings or agents that prevent fogging.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a (often humorous or archaic) remedy, drink, or preparation said to dispel mental fogginess or the after-effects of overindulgence; a restorative.
After the late shift he claimed an antifogmatic cleared his head before the long drive home.
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Adjective 1
preventing or counteracting fog or condensation; designed to keep surfaces (like lenses or goggles) clear.
The new antifogmatic coating kept the diving mask clear throughout the dive.
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Last updated: 2025/09/01 07:28