becquerel

noun

bec·​que·​rel (ˌ)be-ˈkrel 

ˌbe-kə-ˈrel,

ˈbe-kə-ˌrel

plural becquerels

: a unit of radioactivity of a given sample of material equal to one atomic decay (see decay entry 2 sense 5b) per second

The resulting trench is still contaminated with about 100 becquerels of radioactivity per gram of soil, much higher than normal.

—Rob Edwards

compare curie sense 2

—abbreviation Bq

Examples of becquerel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many smoke detectors contain about 1 microcurie, or 37,000 becquerels, of americium-241, which is below the exception limit of 5 µCi (185,000 Bq). —IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2025

The levels of cesium detected – about 68 becquerels per kilogram – were well below the FDA’s intervention level of 1,200 Bq/kg. —Jeffrey Kopp, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025

In Bavaria, boar hunted in certain areas must be tested for radioactivity, and German health guidelines allow for the human consumption of such meat if the radiation is under 600 becquerels per kilogram. —BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023

According to a study by the Japanese government, China’s own Fuqing nuclear power plant discharged 52 trillion becquerels of tritium in 2020. —Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 27 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

after Antoine-Henri becquerel

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Biographical Definition

Becquerel

biographical name

Bec·​que·​rel be-ˈkrel 

ˌbe-kə-ˈrel

family of French physicists including: Antoine-César 1788–1878; his son Alexandre-Edmond 1820–1891; the latter's son Antoine-Henri 1852–1908