electron

noun

elec·​tron i-ˈlek-ˌträn 

: an elementary particle consisting of a charge of negative electricity equal to about 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulomb and having a mass when at rest of about 9.109 × 10⁻³¹ kilogram or about ¹/₁₈₃₆ that of a proton

Examples of electron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Electrolytes that transport electrons can decompose into flammable gases and puff up your battery into a spicy little pillow, for example. —ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025

There’s silver dust in the cells, and some boron and phosphorus, critical additives to increase conductivity and to provide the necessary environment for photons from sunlight to knock electrons loose from the silicon. —Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 9 July 2025

That's similar to a lightning strike, where lightning strips electrons from air molecules to create a conductive plasma channel in the air. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 July 2025

Sovereign funds align grid upgrades with AI build-outs, locking in cheap, reliable electrons and attracting capital at scale. —Guney Yildiz, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

electr- + -on entry 2

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing electron

• Auger electron
• Auger electron spectroscopy
• electron cloud
• electron gas
• electron gun
• electron micrograph
• electron microscope
• electron multiplier
• electron optics
• electron probe
• electron transport
• electron tube
• electron volt
• free-electron laser
• scanning electron microscope
• valence electron

Rhymes for electron

• photoelectron

Kids Definition

electron

noun

elec·​tron i-ˈlek-ˌträn 

: an elementary particle that has a negative charge of electricity and travels around the nucleus of an atom

Medical Definition

electron

noun

elec·​tron i-ˈlek-ˌträn 

: an elementary particle consisting of a charge of negative electricity equal to about 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulomb and having a mass when at rest of about 9.109534 × 10⁻²⁸ gram or about ¹/₁₈₃₆ that of a proton