electron volt

noun

: a unit of energy equal to the energy gained by an electron in passing from a point of low potential to a point one volt higher in potential : 1.60 × 10−19 joule

Examples of electron volt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Two neutrinos, each carrying about 100 trillion electron volts of energy, were both consistent with having come from the same source, NGC 7469, a galaxy with an active core about 220 million light-years away. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2025 The researchers estimate that the neutrino’s energy was on the order of 220 peta electron volts, more than 30 times higher than the most energetic neutrino detected prior to the new observations. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 12 Feb. 2025 The upshot is an X-ray source with an energy of more than 20,000 electron volts. David Szondy, New Atlas, 15 Jan. 2025 Silicon has a band gap of 1.1 electron volts, while silicon carbide’s ranges from 3.3 to 3.4 eV. IEEE Spectrum, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of electron volt was in 1930

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Cite this Entry

“Electron volt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electron%20volt. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

electron volt

noun
: a unit of energy equal to the energy gained by an electron in passing from a point of low potential to a point one volt higher in potential : 1.60 × 10−19 joule

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