electron volt

noun

: a unit of energy equal to the energy gained by an electron in passing from a point of low potential to a point one volt higher in potential : 1.60 × 10−19 joule

Examples of electron volt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Mechanical deformations will open a bandgap, and bandgaps up to 0.2 electron volts have been demonstrated. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Jan. 2024 The bandgap of a semiconductor is defined as the energy, in electron volts, needed for an electron in the semiconductor lattice to jump from the valence band to the conduction band. IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2023 The neutrinos that the astronomers saw have phenomenally high energy: more than a tera-electron volt each. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Dec. 2022 Some anomalous results hinted at a sterile neutrino with a mass of about 1 electron volt (eV), at least 10 times more than ordinary neutrinos weigh. Byadrian Cho, science.org, 11 Jan. 2023 Similarly, the electron volt (eV), which measures the energy of particles in both astronomy and physics, could instead be expressed in terms of attojoules (aJ, 10^−18 joules). Alison Klesman, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2018 Cosmic rays can reach our planet with speeds driven by over a peta-electron volt, or PeV, of energy. WIRED, 28 Aug. 2022 Observations of nearby galaxies and the center of our own Milky Way revealed a faint glow of x-rays with a specific energy, 3.5 kilo-electron volts (keV). Adrian Cho, Science | AAAS, 26 Mar. 2020 As long as the production was reasonably inefficient, and the mass was about 17MeV (million electron volts), then the data was beautifully explained. Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'electron volt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of electron volt was in 1930

Dictionary Entries Near electron volt

Cite this Entry

“Electron volt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electron%20volt. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

electron volt

noun
: a unit of energy equal to the energy gained by an electron in passing from a point of low potential to a point one volt higher in potential : 1.60 × 10−19 joule

More from Merriam-Webster on electron volt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!