argon

noun

ar·​gon ˈär-ˌgän 

: a colorless odorless inert gaseous element found in the air and in volcanic gases and used especially in welding, lasers, and electric bulbs see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of argon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For its part, SpaceX developed a satellite for Starlink that uses argon as a propellant. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 9 May 2026

Before any argon is piped in, the containers must be laced with hundreds of massive wire grids, each composed of thousands of thin hand-strung wires that are now under construction. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026

Once completed, each cryostat will contain approximately 17,000 tons of liquid argon, nearly a mile underground. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026

Fire officials said the initial investigation found oxygen sensors used in the plant's magnesium transfer, which is usually transferred using argon gas to prevent oxygen exposure, may have malfunctioned and the subsequent exposure to oxygen may have caused the explosion. —Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek, neuter of argos idle, lazy, from a- + ergon work; from its relative inertness — more at work

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing argon

• potassium-argon

Rhymes for argon

• anton
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon
• coupon

Kids Definition

argon

noun

ar·​gon ˈär-ˌgän 

: a colorless odorless element that is a gas found in the air and in volcanic gases and used especially in electric bulbs see element

Medical Definition

argon

noun

ar·​gon ˈär-ˌgän 

: a colorless odorless inert gaseous element found in the air and in volcanic gases and used especially in lasers and electric bulbs

—symbol Ar see Chemical Elements Table