atomicity
|a-tom-ic-i-ty|
/ˌætəˈmɪsɪti/
indivisibility / being atomic
Etymology
'atomicity' originates from English, formed by adding the suffix '-ity' to 'atomic', where 'atomic' comes from Greek 'atomos' meaning 'uncuttable' (a- 'not' + tomos 'cut').
'atomos' (Greek) passed into Medieval Latin/Neo-Latin as 'atomus'/'atom-', then into English as 'atom' and adjective 'atomic'; the modern English noun 'atomicity' was formed from 'atomic' + '-ity' in Modern English.
Initially related to the Greek idea of being 'uncuttable' or indivisible; over time the term developed technical senses such as the 'number of atoms in a molecule' in chemistry and the 'indivisible (all-or-nothing) property of transactions' in computer science.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in computer science and databases: the property of a transaction that ensures it is indivisible—either all operations in the transaction are performed (committed) or none are.
The database guarantees atomicity so that partial updates cannot leave data inconsistent.
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Noun 2
in chemistry: the number of atoms of an element present in a molecule (for example, the atomicity of O2 is 2).
The atomicity of nitrogen in N2 is 2.
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Noun 3
the quality or state of being atomic — that is, being indivisible, fundamental, or composed of discrete units.
Philosophers discussed the atomicity of the concept—whether it could be broken down into simpler parts.
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Last updated: 2025/11/12 19:00