: an elementary particle that is identical with the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, that along with the neutron is a constituent of all other atomic nuclei, that carries a positive charge numerically equal to the charge of an electron, and that has a mass of 1.673 × 10−27 kilogram
Examples of proton in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Over time, one of those extra neutrons will decay into a proton and produce a new electron.
—
Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024
Cosmic radiation—high-energy particles such as protons, electrons and neutrons—degrades most electronics.
—Debbie G. Senesky, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023
When Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan first conceived what would become 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, their top order of business was to reframe the franchise around a 12-year-old girl with a proton pack.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2024
Characters are frequently in peril, proton pack weapons are used and there’s property damage galore (plus jump scares).
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
Forty years ago, four men put on uniforms, came up with a catchy logo — a startled specter in a red circle with a slash going through it, no big whoop — strapped on some proton packs and saved New York City from an evil deity holed up in a penthouse.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
The experiments literally shine a new light on the proton.
—Quanta Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
The most common forms occur when an unstable nucleus spits out an alpha particle, consisting of two neutrons and two protons, a beta particle consisting of an energetic positron or electron, or a gamma ray, consisting of a high energy photon.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
One of the most common existing technologies for electrolysis—the process of generating hydrogen gas from water using electricity—is proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2023
Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024
Cosmic radiation—high-energy particles such as protons, electrons and neutrons—degrades most electronics.
—Debbie G. Senesky, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023
When Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan first conceived what would become 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, their top order of business was to reframe the franchise around a 12-year-old girl with a proton pack.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2024
Characters are frequently in peril, proton pack weapons are used and there’s property damage galore (plus jump scares).
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
Forty years ago, four men put on uniforms, came up with a catchy logo — a startled specter in a red circle with a slash going through it, no big whoop — strapped on some proton packs and saved New York City from an evil deity holed up in a penthouse.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
The experiments literally shine a new light on the proton.
—Quanta Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
The most common forms occur when an unstable nucleus spits out an alpha particle, consisting of two neutrons and two protons, a beta particle consisting of an energetic positron or electron, or a gamma ray, consisting of a high energy photon.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
One of the most common existing technologies for electrolysis—the process of generating hydrogen gas from water using electricity—is proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proton.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near proton
Cite this Entry
“Proton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proton. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proton
noun
pro·ton
ˈprō-ˌtän 
: an atomic particle that occurs in the nucleus of every atom and carries a positive charge equal in size to the negative charge of an electron
Medical Definition
proton
noun
pro·ton
ˈprō-ˌtän
: an elementary particle that is identical with the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, that along with neutrons is a constituent of all other atomic nuclei, that carries a positive charge numerically equal to the charge of an electron, and that has a mass of 1.673×10−24 gram
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