fermion
noun
fer·mi·on
ˈfer-mē-ˌän 
ˈfər-
: a particle (such as an electron, proton, or neutron) whose spin quantum number is an odd multiple of ¹/₂ compare boson
Examples of fermion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Supersymmetry hypothesizes an as-yet-undiscovered boson partner for every fermion, and a fermion partner for each boson.
—
Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 10 May 2023
If a fermion orbits another fermion, its quantum state remains unchanged.
—Stephen Ornes, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2020
Familiar constituents of matter like electrons and quarks fall into the group known as fermions; while those that carry fundamental forces like photons, the particles of light that convey the force of electromagnetism, are known as bosons.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 10 May 2023
This idea bridges two categories of particles—bosons, which can be packed together in large numbers, and fermions, which are antisocial and will share space only with particles of opposite spin.
—Marcela Carena, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2021
Consider the Weyl fermion.
—Devin Powell, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2019
Those blocks can be divided into two basic clans: fermions and bosons.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Mar. 2023
In this case, the horizontal axis is a scalar mass parameter, and the vertical axis is a fermion mass parameter, in terms of which everything else is determined (within this highly constrained and frankly unrealistic parameterization).
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2011
Physicists are also reassessing particle flavor, a quantum property that defines the species of fermion: up quark, down quark, electron, muon, and so on.
—Daniel Garisto, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2022
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Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 10 May 2023
If a fermion orbits another fermion, its quantum state remains unchanged.
—Stephen Ornes, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2020
Familiar constituents of matter like electrons and quarks fall into the group known as fermions; while those that carry fundamental forces like photons, the particles of light that convey the force of electromagnetism, are known as bosons.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 10 May 2023
This idea bridges two categories of particles—bosons, which can be packed together in large numbers, and fermions, which are antisocial and will share space only with particles of opposite spin.
—Marcela Carena, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2021
Consider the Weyl fermion.
—Devin Powell, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2019
Those blocks can be divided into two basic clans: fermions and bosons.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Mar. 2023
In this case, the horizontal axis is a scalar mass parameter, and the vertical axis is a fermion mass parameter, in terms of which everything else is determined (within this highly constrained and frankly unrealistic parameterization).
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2011
Physicists are also reassessing particle flavor, a quantum property that defines the species of fermion: up quark, down quark, electron, muon, and so on.
—Daniel Garisto, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fermion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Enrico Fermi + English -on entry 2
First Known Use
1947, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fermion
Cite this Entry
“Fermion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fermion. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fermion
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