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
—abbreviation Bq
compare curie sense 2
Rob EdwardsExamples of becquerel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The level of cesium 137 detected in the frozen shrimp was about 68 becquerels per kilogram, a measure of radioactivity.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2025
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
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Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Becquerel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/becquerel. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical 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
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