condensation reaction

This term is a technical designation used primarily in organic chemistry and biochemistry. It describes a specific mechanism of synthesis where the joining of two monomers results in the expulsion of a small byproduct, typically water. This process is the chemical opposite of hydrolysis, where water is used to break a bond.

In a biological context, this reaction is fundamental to the creation of polymers, such as the formation of proteins from amino acids or polysaccharides from simple sugars. Because it is a precise scientific term, it is used in formal academic and laboratory settings rather than in casual conversation.