electron

noun

elec·​tron i-ˈlek-ˌträn 

: an elementary particle consisting of a charge of negative electricity equal to about 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulomb and having a mass when at rest of about 9.109 × 10⁻³¹ kilogram or about 1/1836 that of a proton

Examples of electron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists have uncovered a previously unthinkable state of matter that challenges decades of assumptions about how electrons behave, opening novel possibilities for quantum computing, sensing and advanced materials. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026

The spectrum of radiation emitted from the little red dots suggested that before the JWST detected these rays of light, they got scattered off electrons in dense clouds of ionized gas in the centers of the little red dots. —Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 14 Jan. 2026

The crux of contention, Nemmen says, is just how much ionized gas a cocoon would hold, and thus how much electron scattering would interfere with measuring a lurking black hole’s actual mass. —Lee Billings, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026

This more efficient electron flow significantly increases the brightness of the display, as evidenced by an external quantum efficiency of 17 percent, which the group claims is a record for stretchable OLEDs. —Perri Thaler, IEEE Spectrum, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

electr- + -on entry 2

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing electron

• Auger electron
• Auger electron spectroscopy
• electron cloud
• electron gas
• electron gun
• electron micrograph
• electron microscope
• electron multiplier
• electron optics
• electron probe
• electron transport
• electron tube
• electron volt
• free-electron laser
• scanning electron microscope
• valence electron

Rhymes for electron

• photoelectron

Kids Definition

electron

noun

elec·​tron i-ˈlek-ˌträn 

: an elementary particle that has a negative charge of electricity and travels around the nucleus of an atom

Medical Definition

electron

noun

elec·​tron i-ˈlek-ˌträn 

: an elementary particle consisting of a charge of negative electricity equal to about 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulomb and having a mass when at rest of about 9.109534 × 10⁻²⁸ gram or about ¹/₁₈₃₆ that of a proton