mass number

noun

: an integer that approximates the mass of an isotope and designates the number of nucleons in the nucleus

Examples of mass number in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are going to workplaces, homeless shelters and even immigration reporting centers and indiscriminately rounding up mass numbers of migrants. Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025 The preference for boys was a bias that killed in mass numbers. Bryan Walsh, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 Those are the people who are really getting targeted now in mass numbers. Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 30 May 2025 President-elect Donald Trump has promised to expel mass numbers of them his first day in office. Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Jan. 2025 This local boutique made waves when the shop drew Swifties in mass numbers during Taylor Swift's three-day stop in Indianapolis earlier this month. Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Nov. 2024 The plan would eliminate tens of thousands of federal jobs, the Department of Education would be abolished, and undocumented immigrants would be deported in mass numbers, among other policies. Melissa Noel, Essence, 9 Sep. 2024 According to the project, tens of thousands of federal jobs would be eliminated, the Department of Education would be abolished, and undocumented immigrants would be deported in mass numbers, among other policies. Kizzy Cox, Essence, 12 July 2024 Davis spent years programming bots to attack e-commerce sites to buy up mass numbers of limited-edition athletic shoes. Ash-Har Quraishi, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mass number was in 1923

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mass number.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mass%20number. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

mass number

noun
: a whole number that expresses the approximate mass of an atom in terms of the number of protons and neutrons in the atom

Medical Definition

mass number

noun
: an integer that approximates the mass of an isotope and that designates the number of nucleons in the nucleus
the symbol for carbon of mass number 14 is 14C or C14
compare atomic mass

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