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
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The northern lights result from electrons colliding with the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.
—
Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
This property is driven by a phenomenon known as plasmonics, where light interacting with a material generates collective oscillations of electrons, producing highly localized electromagnetic fields that can be exploited in technologies such as sensing, catalysis, and energy harvesting.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
This means physical constants such as the speed of light and the charge of electrons could have different values.
—Zachary Slepian, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
The experienced traveller might make it from taxi to gate in a tight twenty-five, passed from station to station as seamlessly as an electron in a circuit.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
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Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
This property is driven by a phenomenon known as plasmonics, where light interacting with a material generates collective oscillations of electrons, producing highly localized electromagnetic fields that can be exploited in technologies such as sensing, catalysis, and energy harvesting.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
This means physical constants such as the speed of light and the charge of electrons could have different values.
—Zachary Slepian, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
The experienced traveller might make it from taxi to gate in a tight twenty-five, passed from station to station as seamlessly as an electron in a circuit.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for electron
Cite this Entry
“Electron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electron. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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