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Definition of "monovalent" [mo•nov•a•lent]

  • Chemistry Having a valence of 1; univalent. (adjective)
  • Immunology Containing antigens from a single strain of a microorganism: a monovalent vaccine; a monovalent serum. (adjective)
  • Immunology Having only one site of attachment. Used of an antibody or antigen. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "monovalent" in a sentence
  • "If all words were monovalent and easily translatable, how boring languages would be!"
  • "The atomic interpretation of electrolysis required a corresponding atomistic interpretation of electric charge, with each monovalent ion carrying a single unit of charge, a bi-valent ion carrying two such units and so on."
  • "- Live attenuated viral vaccine, monovalent (Sabin), vial with liquid vaccine, limpid and pink colored, ready for administration (do not use the vaccine when cloudy)."