strong force

noun

: a fundamental physical force that acts on hadrons and is responsible for the binding together of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus and for processes of particle creation in high-energy collisions and that is the strongest known fundamental physical force but acts only over distances comparable to those between nucleons in an atomic nucleus

called also strong interaction, strong nuclear force

compare electromagnetism sense 2a, gravity sense 1a(2), weak force

Examples of strong force in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Officials involved in putting together the new 5,500-strong force say the timeline has actually been compressed. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 May 2026

Another Marine unit, the 11th MEU -- also a 2,200-strong force -- has begun sailing from California toward Japan and could ultimately be redirected to the Middle East as part of the buildup, the officials said. —Abc News, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026

There are eight massless gluons that mediate the strong force, and no other particles are involved in it. —Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026

The strong force is also the most mysterious and confusing force, governed by a complex theory called quantum chromodynamics. —Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for strong force

• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce
• indorse
• midcourse
• outsource
• perforce
• racehorse
• remorse
• seahorse
• workforce

Kids Definition

strong force

noun

: the force between the particles of an atomic nucleus that acts to hold the nucleus together and is the strongest known force