particle

noun

par·​ti·​cle ˈpär-ti-kəl 

1

a

: a minute quantity or fragment

b

: a relatively small or the smallest discrete portion or amount of something

2

archaic : a clause or article of a composition or document

3

: any of the basic units of matter and energy (such as a molecule, atom, proton, electron, or photon)

4

: a unit of speech expressing some general aspect of meaning or some connective or limiting relation and including the articles, most prepositions and conjunctions, and some interjections and adverbs

the particle up has a perfective meaning in phrases such as beat up and cut up

5

: a small eucharistic wafer distributed to a Roman Catholic layman at Communion

Synonyms

• sprinkling
• speck
• hint
• splash
• glimmer
• shred
• bit
• touch
• little
• trace
• lick
• ray
• spark
• tad

Examples of particle in a Sentence

There is not a particle of evidence to support their claim.

There is not a particle of truth in what he said.

The phrasal verb “look up” consists of the verb “look” and the adverbial particle “up.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Kaiser consistently said that the particles were harmless, inert material dislodged by a malfunctioning water heater that was not infectious. —Paul Sisson, Mercury News, 10 July 2025

The unit is also equipped with a Clean Sense IQ monitor, which will keep track of any extra particles. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2025

There’s no cheap version of this transformation: Picture the resources needed to reconfigure huge, coal-hungry textile mills to run on renewable energy, or to develop entirely new fibers and machines that can spin them without shedding tiny plastic particles or requiring toxic chemicals. —Elizabeth Cline, The Atlantic, 8 July 2025

With current estimates suggesting there are 51 trillion microplastic particles in our oceans, a reusable water bottle is a more eco-friendly choice. —Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 7 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin particula, from diminutive of part-, pars

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing particle

• alpha particle
• beta particle
• elementary particle
• fundamental particle
• J/psi particle
• particle accelerator
• particle physics
• psi particle
• W particle
• Z particle

Rhymes for particle

• article
• interparticle
• nanoparticle
• quasiparticle

Kids Definition

particle

noun

par·​ti·​cle ˈpärt-i-kəl 

1

: one of the very small parts of matter (as a molecule, atom, or electron)

2

: a very small quantity or piece

3

: the smallest possible portion

Medical Definition

particle

noun

par·​ti·​cle ˈpärt-i-kəl 

1

: one of the minute subdivisions of matter (as an atom or molecule)

also : elementary particle

2

: a minute quantity or fragment