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 3a(2), weak force

Examples of strong force in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But recently physicists have made real progress in measuring the strong force. —Laura Helmuth, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024

For the strong force, however, αs increases with distance. —Stanley J. Brodsky, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024

Not waiting around for formal doctrine to catch up, this Christian community is a strong force for ecumenical collaboration. —Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2013

The original point of axions was to solve a mystery involving the strong force. —Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 17 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

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