The acoustic attenuation at 10 MHz in yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO2(Y)) was measured at temperatures between 300 and 600 K. The attenuation curve showed a relaxation peak, from which the activation energy was estimated to be 0.7 +/- 0.07 eV, in good agreement with the value obtained from dielectric constant of 0.66 +/- 0.07 eV. On the other hand, the measurement of ionic conductivity gave 0.92 +/- 0.1 eV. The conclusion is that in addition to diffusion of oxygen ions there exists a second, localised mechanism for relaxation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.