positron

noun

pos·​i·​tron ˈpä-zə-ˌträn 

: a positively charged particle having the same mass and magnitude of charge as the electron and constituting the antiparticle of the electron

called also antielectron

Examples of positron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is akin to what happens when an electron meets its antimatter counterpart, or positron. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 June 2026

These electrons and positrons could have enough oomph to separate the electrons from their molecules and get an avalanche going, even if the electric field stays well below the critical threshold. — Quanta Magazine, 6 May 2026

The experiment was to measure the angle at which events that produced an electron-positron pair had those two particles, the electron and the positron, made relative to one another. — Big Think, 19 Mar. 2026

The particles needed to fulfil this goal, like antiprotons and positrons, behave so differently that trapping them in the same place has been nearly impossible. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

positive + -tron (as in electron)

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing positron

• positron-emission tomography

Rhymes for positron

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon
• epsilon

Kids Definition

positron

noun

pos·​i·​tron ˈpäz-ə-ˌträn 

: a positively charged particle having the same mass and size of charge as the electron

Medical Definition

positron

noun

pos·​i·​tron ˈpäz-ə-ˌträn 

: a positively charged particle having the same mass and magnitude of charge as the electron and constituting the antiparticle of the electron

called also positive electron