atomic

adjective

atom·​ic ə-ˈtä-mik 

1

a

: of, relating to, or concerned with atoms

atomic physics

b

: nuclear sense 2

atomic energy

2

a

: marked by acceptance of the theory of atomism

b

: atomistic sense 2

3

: minute

4

of a chemical element : existing in the state of separate atoms

atomically

ə-ˈtä-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• bitsy
• bitty
• infinitesimal
• itty-bitty
• itsy-bitsy
• little bitty
• microminiature
• microscopic
• microscopical
• miniature
• minuscule
• minute
• teensy
• teensy-weensy
• teeny
• teeny-weeny
• tiny
• wee
• weeny
• weensy

Examples of atomic in a Sentence

made atomic adjustments to the clock's mechanism to keep it from whirring as it ran

Recent Examples on the Web

And in last month’s production in Nice, the director set the story in 1945 Nagasaki, Japan, in the aftermath of the U.S. atomic bombing. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024

Iran’s nuclear program has rapidly advanced to producing enriched uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels since the collapse of its atomic deal with world powers after then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018. —Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

In Banks’s books, whether fiction or nonfiction, the atomic unit of story is the family. —Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024

Colonel Serhii Pakhomov, acting head of the military's atomic, biological and chemical defense forces, said Kyiv had recorded around 900 uses of riot control agents by Russia in the past six months out of over 1,400 since the Feb. 2022 invasion. —Fox News, 17 Apr. 2024

Left behind after a supernova explosion, neutron stars are city-size balls of matter with the density of an atomic nucleus, so 300 trillion times denser than the Sun. —Chris Impey, Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024

The researchers can even distinguish between molecules with the same atomic makeup. —Eve Thomas, WIRED, 3 Apr. 2024

But historically, that has involved adding leap seconds to the common standard for clocks when Earth’s slowing spin causes astronomical time to fall behind atomic time (which is measured by the vibration of atoms in atomic clocks). —Evan Bush, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024

Please note from the trailer that Godzilla is now sporting glowing pink dorsal spines, eyes and atomic breath. —Andrew Torgan, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing atomic

• atomic bomb
• atomic clock
• atomic energy
• atomic force microscope
• atomic layer deposition
• atomic mass
• atomic mass unit
• atomic number
• atomic pile
• atomic reactor
• atomic theory
• atomic weight
• gram-atomic weight

Kids Definition

atomic

adjective

atom·​ic ə-ˈtäm-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or concerned with atoms, atomic bombs, or nuclear energy

atomic physics

the atomic age

atomic energy

2

: extremely small

3

: found in the state of separate atoms

atomic hydrogen