subatomic

adjective

sub·atom·ic ˌsəb-ə-ˈtä-mik

: of or relating to the inside of the atom

: of, relating to, or being particles smaller than atoms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web For quantum-mechanical objects—existing at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles—such superpositions of classically incompatible states are common. —

Lars Fischer, Scientific American, 12 May 2023 But instead of using bits, a quantum computer uses qubits, typically a subatomic particle like an electron or photon, that could be both one and zero and everything in between in a wave of probabilities. —

Susan Lahey, Popular Mechanics, 12 May 2023 The quasiparticles, a concept the Department of Energy says helps scientists describe the patterns that emerge when subatomic particles interact in huge numbers, are collective excitations of many electrons in solid devices. —

Julia Musto, Fox News, 10 May 2023 Automated software looks for moving blips of light, checks them against possible false positives like subatomic particles from space zapping the detector, oversensitive pixels, and the like. —

Phil Plait, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2023 Hank’s wife and Hope’s mother (and the original Wasp), who was trapped for thirty years in the infinitesimal, subatomic Quantum Realm. —

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2023 Cassie has been getting a crash course in superhero science and experimenting with sending a signal to the subatomic Quantum Realm. —

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2023 Physicists described the achievement as another small step in the effort to understand the relation between gravity, which shapes the universe, and quantum mechanics, which governs the subatomic realm of particles. —

Dennis Overbye, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2022 The Lang/van Dyne family embarks on an exciting new adventure in the subatomic realm in the first official trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. —

Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Oct. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subatomic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.