1. A phonological process in which two similar sounds in a word become less alike or one is lost, to make pronunciation easier.
Usage: linguistics; phonetics
2. The process of breaking down or reducing something into simpler components; decomposition.
Usage: formal; technical

Examples

• In English, dissimilation changed the Latin word 'peregrinus' to 'pilgrim' by altering one of the similar r sounds.
• The word 'colonel' shows historical dissimilation in its pronunciation compared to its spelling.
• Linguists study dissimilation to understand how languages evolve and simplify their sound systems.
• The dissimilation of the two l sounds in some dialects of English is a common phonetic phenomenon.
• Chemical dissimilation breaks down complex molecules into simpler substances during metabolism.