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
TimeExamples 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 molecule is already utilized in antibacterial medications used for the treatment of wounds and acne.
—New Atlas, 15 Aug. 2025
Together, the algorithms generated more than 10 million candidate molecules, none of which had ever existed before.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Aug. 2025
As the probes twinkle on and off, computational models estimate exactly where each molecule is located—and reconstruct a high-resolution image of the sample.
—Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 14 Aug. 2025
After conducting experiments on mice, the researchers found that S. mansoni produces molecules that suppress the activity of TRPV1+, a protein used to send signals that the brain interprets as heat, itching or pain.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for molecule
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New Atlas, 15 Aug. 2025
Together, the algorithms generated more than 10 million candidate molecules, none of which had ever existed before.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Aug. 2025
As the probes twinkle on and off, computational models estimate exactly where each molecule is located—and reconstruct a high-resolution image of the sample.
—Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 14 Aug. 2025
After conducting experiments on mice, the researchers found that S. mansoni produces molecules that suppress the activity of TRPV1+, a protein used to send signals that the brain interprets as heat, itching or pain.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for molecule
Cite this Entry
“Molecule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molecule. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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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