ðə dˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən "ɡˈælvɐnˌɑːstæt" ɪz mˈeɪnli jˈuːzd ɪn ɪlˌɛktɹoʊkˈɛmɪstɹi: ðɪs dɪvˈaɪs dˈɪfɚz fɹʌm kˈɑːmən kˈɑːnstənt kˈɜːɹənt sˈoːɹsᵻz baɪ ɪts ɐbˈɪləɾi tə səplˈaɪ ænd mˈɛʒɚɹ ɐ wˈaɪd ɹˈeɪndʒ ʌv kˈɜːɹənts fɹʌm pˈiːkoʊˌæmpɛɹz tʊ ˈæmpɛɹz ʌv bˈoʊθ poʊlˈæɹᵻɾiz.
The designation "galvanostat" is mainly used in electrochemistry: this device differs from common constant current sources by its ability to supply and measure a wide range of  currents (from picoamperes to amperes) of both polarities.