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Definition of photon

photon

/ˈfoʊtɑːn/
pho · ton
Adverb:photonically
•
Plural:photons
•
Adjective:photonic
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photon Lexical Profile

photon Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A massless elementary particle that serves as the fundamental quantum of electromagnetic radiation (including visible light) and the force carrier for the electromagnetic force, traveling in a vacuum at the speed of light.

Example

"When an electron drops to a lower energy orbit within an atom, it emits a single photon of light with a specific wavelength."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for photon

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'photon' (an elementary particle of light) with 'proton' (a positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom) or 'phonon' (a quantum of vibrational mechanical energy).

• Rhymes for photon

• Nearby Words

photography
photojournalism
photojournalist
photon
photonegative
photorealistic
photoset

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1926 by American physical chemist Gilbert N. Lewis from the Ancient Greek 'phos' (stem 'phot-'), meaning 'light', combined with the subatomic particle suffix '-on' modeled after 'electron' and 'proton'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Photon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/photon
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