atomic clock
noun
: a precision clock that depends for its operation on an electrical oscillator regulated by the natural vibration frequencies of an atomic system (such as a beam of cesium atoms)
Examples of atomic clock in a Sentence
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As per the researchers, neutral-atom arrays have a realistic path to scalability, with potential benefits extending beyond quantum computers to technologies such as quantum simulators and portable optical atomic clocks.
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Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
The atomic clock, which uses cesium atoms to measure the exact length of a second, is used for GPS satellite networks, data centers, laboratories, aerospace, telecommunications, power generation and other systems that require ultra-precise timekeeping.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
All of the atomic clocks continued ticking through the power outage last week thanks to their battery backup systems, according to NIST supervisory research physicist Jeff Sherman.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 21 Dec. 2025
The most precise timekeepers ever made, atomic clocks, might one day help robotic and crewed missions on Mars stay in sync with each other, as well as enable the equivalent of GPS on the red planet.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Dec. 2025
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Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
The atomic clock, which uses cesium atoms to measure the exact length of a second, is used for GPS satellite networks, data centers, laboratories, aerospace, telecommunications, power generation and other systems that require ultra-precise timekeeping.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
All of the atomic clocks continued ticking through the power outage last week thanks to their battery backup systems, according to NIST supervisory research physicist Jeff Sherman.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 21 Dec. 2025
The most precise timekeepers ever made, atomic clocks, might one day help robotic and crewed missions on Mars stay in sync with each other, as well as enable the equivalent of GPS on the red planet.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atomic clock
Cite this Entry
“Atomic clock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atomic%20clock. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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