baryon

noun

bary·​on ˈber-ē-ˌän 

ˈba-rē-

: any of a group of subatomic particles (such as nucleons) that are subject to the strong force and are composed of three quarks

baryonic

ˌber-ē-ˈä-nik 

ˌba-rē-

adjective

Examples of baryon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Poplawski explained how there are also unknown processes that violate the balance between a family of particles called baryons and their antimatter counterparts, the antibaryons. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026

The previous heavy baryon was discovered in 2017, also at LHCb, and consists of two charm quarks and an up quark. —Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026

On the smallest scales, the strong nuclear force binds quarks into bound structures, three-at-a-time, known as baryons. —Big Think, 16 Oct. 2025

But the rest of the universe is made of cosmic baryons, or ordinary matter, which can be found in tiny particles called protons and neutrons. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek barýs "heavy" + -on entry 2; so named from their greater mass relative to other subatomic particles known at the time — more at grave entry 2

Note: The name was introduced by the Dutch-American physicist Abraham Pais (1918-2000) in "On the Baryon-Meson-Photon," Progress of Theoretical Physics, vol. 10, No. 4 (October, 1953), pp. 457-69. The substance of the paper was presented at the International Conference on Theoretical Physics held in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan in September of 1953.

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for baryon

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