Definition of electromagnetic pulse
: a pulse of high-intensity electromagnetic radiation generated especially by a nuclear blast high above the earth's surface and held to disrupt electronic and electrical systems
Any nuclear bomb detonated high above the atmosphere bathes the area below in a powerful electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that is likely to burn out delicate electronic chips, transistors, computers and power and communication systems. The pulse happens at the speed of light, covering an entire continent.— William Broad
—abbreviation EMP
Examples of electromagnetic pulse in a Sentence
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The planes start with a standard 747 and add state-of-the-art communications, missile avoidance systems, inflight refueling, VIP interior and protections from the electromagnetic pulse of a nuclear blast.
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Chris Isidore, CNN, 9 June 2021
This rapid movement generates an electromagnetic pulse or EMP.
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David Hambling, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2021
The weapon should have the ability to fry a target’s electronics with an electromagnetic pulse.
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Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 24 Feb. 2021
But calling 911 would be pointless, because all networks would be destroyed and electronic devices would be rendered inoperable by electromagnetic pulse.
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Loren Thompson, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2021
Peter Vincent Pry, executive director of the EMP Task Force on National and Homeland Security, also said China has leapfrogged U.S. developments in electromagnetic pulse warfare.
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Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2021
President Trump has been nominated a fifth time for the Nobel Peace Prize, this time by the leaders of the effort to protect the nation’s electric grid from a nuclear electromagnetic pulse attack.
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Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, 3 Nov. 2020
The bombing sequence midway through the film lasts over four minutes, beginning with an electromagnetic pulse that shuts down the power grid and knocks out all the vehicles attempting to flee on the local highway.
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Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Aug. 2020
An electromagnetic pulse is directed into the ground, and any objects or layering (stratigraphy) will be detectable in the reflections picked up by a receiver, just like regular radar.
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Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 June 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'electromagnetic pulse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Last Updated
13 Jun 2021
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Cite this Entry
“Electromagnetic pulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electromagnetic%20pulse. Accessed 18 Jun. 2021.
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The first known use of electromagnetic pulse was in 1951
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