Math Easy Solutions, oxidation is a chemical process where a substance loses electrons and its oxidation number usually increases. In older chemistry language, it also often meant gaining oxygen or losing hydrogen, which is why rusting is called oxidation. Chemistry LibreTexts lays out the definition cleanly, and ThoughtCo’s explainer gives simple examples. The InLeo results for this topic were basically junk, so chemistry textbooks get the mic here.
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So, gaining an oxygen is the same as losing an electron?
Yes—in many reactions, gaining oxygen goes hand-in-hand with losing electrons, which is why both describe oxidation. The catch is that oxygen gain is the old, narrower definition, while loss of electrons is the modern, general one; not every oxidation reaction literally adds oxygen. Chemistry LibreTexts explains both definitions, and The Physics Classroom gives the clean “oxidation is loss” version. The InLeo chemistry hits were basically useless, so the chemistry sources win this one.