molecule
noun
mol·e·cule
ˈmä-li-ˌkyül 
1
: the smallest particle of a substance that retains all the properties (see property sense 1a) of the substance and is composed of one or more atoms (see atom sense 1a)
a molecule of water
a molecule of oxygen
2
: a tiny bit : particle
a molecule of political honesty—
Time
TimeSynonyms
Examples of molecule in a Sentence
There is not a molecule of evidence to support these charges.
not a molecule of sense in that girl
Recent Examples on the Web
The system needs to know what a certain molecule or a set of molecules smells like to a human.
—Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 30 May 2024
Researchers using urchins in which that protein no longer works can study the movement of a molecule through an organism — DDT, for example — and measure how much of the substance ends up in the cell without the confounding interference of ABCD1.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024
As the technology continues to advance, scientists may be able to use it for watching electrons move in many other kinds of molecules—boosting chemistry, biology, and any other scientific fields that study how molecules behave.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 May 2024
As white light, composed of all visible wavelengths of light, enters the atmosphere, air molecules preferentially scatter the waves with the shortest, highest-energy wavelengths, namely blue and violet light.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 27 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for molecule 
Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 30 May 2024
Researchers using urchins in which that protein no longer works can study the movement of a molecule through an organism — DDT, for example — and measure how much of the substance ends up in the cell without the confounding interference of ABCD1.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024
As the technology continues to advance, scientists may be able to use it for watching electrons move in many other kinds of molecules—boosting chemistry, biology, and any other scientific fields that study how molecules behave.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 May 2024
As white light, composed of all visible wavelengths of light, enters the atmosphere, air molecules preferentially scatter the waves with the shortest, highest-energy wavelengths, namely blue and violet light.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 27 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for molecule
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'molecule.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Molecule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molecule. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
molecule
noun
mol·e·cule
ˈmäl-i-ˌkyü(ə)l
1
: the smallest particle of a substance having all the characteristics of the substance
a molecule of water
a molecule of oxygen
2
: a very small bit : particle
Medical Definition
molecule
noun
mol·e·cule
ˈmäl-i-ˌkyü(ə)l
: the smallest particle of a substance that retains all the properties of the substance and is composed of one or more atoms
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