Photon
//ˈfəʊtɒn// noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The quantum of light and other electromagnetic energy, regarded as a discrete particle having zero rest mass, no electric charge, and an indefinitely long lifetime. It is a gauge boson. particle
"The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail."
- 2 a quantum of electromagnetic radiation; an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle wordnet
Example
More examples"A photon is its own antiparticle."
Etymology
From photo- + -on. Coined by American physicist Leonard Troland in 1916 as a unit of light hitting the retina, and later popularized in a more modern sense by Gilbert N. Lewis, with the term gaining acceptance in the physics community by the late 1920s.
Related phrases
More for "photon"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.