electromagnetic radiation

noun

Definition of electromagnetic radiation

: energy in the form of electromagnetic waves also : a series of electromagnetic waves

Examples of electromagnetic radiation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The all-optical nature of the vapor cells means that even if they are hit with a massive burst of electromagnetic radiation, like that from a solar flare, they won't be permanently damaged because there is no circuitry to fry. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "A new antenna using single atoms could usher in the age of atomic radio," 19 Sep. 2018 Should that object possess an asymmetrical electric charge (where one side has slightly more charge than the other), its spin could emit electromagnetic radiation in the form of microwaves. — Shannon Hall, Scientific American, "Glittering Diamond Dust in Space Might Solve a 20-Year-Old Mystery," 11 June 2018 Instead of using electromagnetic radiation to produce imagery, the researchers have found a way to use low-power radio waves to track the movement and figure of humans through a wall. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "MIT just invented X-ray vision—sort of," 15 June 2018 By 375,000 years after the Big Bang, the temperature had fallen to 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit and the universe became transparent, freeing visible light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation to travel across the cosmos. — Dan Falk /, NBC News, "What is the Big Bang theory?," 9 June 2018 Unlike dark matter, ordinary matter heats up when squeezed, generating light and other electromagnetic radiation that then pushes the matter around. — Adrian Cho, Science | AAAS, "Galaxy simulations are at last matching reality—and producing surprising insights into cosmic evolution," 30 May 2018 These devices are not really clocks at all in the traditional sense, but rather particle physics experiments that are designed to find the specific frequency of electromagnetic radiation that causes a cesium atom's outer electron to transition. — Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, "The Centuries-Long Quest to Measure One Second," 24 Mar. 2017 Pacific Power says the data the meters transmit is protected and that the radio transmitters generate less electromagnetic radiation than a cellphone. — Donald W. Meyers, The Seattle Times, "‘Smart’ meters in Washington state: Convenience or potential invasion of privacy?," 13 May 2018 Northern Mecklenburg County has seen toxic releases to air and water, asbestos contamination and electromagnetic radiation from power lines. — Bruce Henderson, charlotteobserver, "Mysterious eye cancer that baffled Huntersville is now cropping up two states away | Charlotte Observer," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'electromagnetic radiation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.