noun
antimatter
AN-tee-mat
Antimatter (noun) means Matter made up of antiparticles, which have the same mass as ordinary particles but opposite charge, and which annihilate on contact with ordinary matter. Example: “Scientists have created tiny amounts of antimatter in particle accelerators.”
noun
1
Matter made up of antiparticles, which have the same mass as ordinary particles but opposite charge, and which annihilate on contact with ordinary matter.
"Scientists have created tiny amounts of antimatter in particle accelerators."
"Science fiction often imagines antimatter as a fuel source powerful enough to drive starships."
How to use antimatter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA form of matter that is the mirror-opposite of ordinary matter and destroys it on contact.
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Word forms
- Plural
- antimatters
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Scientists have created tiny amounts of _____ in particle accelerators.
Etymology
Coined in 1898 by physicist Arthur Schuster in a playful article about hypothetical matter that repels gravity, though the modern scientific meaning only took hold in the 1940s.
Class of 1898
antimatter joined the language around 1898.
See the full Class of 1898 →
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for antimatter
See all rhymes for antimatter →Frequently asked questions
What does “antimatter” mean?
The word “antimatter” means matter made up of antiparticles, which have the same mass as ordinary particles but opposite charge, and which annihilate on contact with ordinary matter. In plain terms, a form of matter that is the mirror-opposite of ordinary matter and destroys it on contact.
How do you pronounce “antimatter”?
“Antimatter” is pronounced AN-tee-mat (/ˈæn.tiˌmæt.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “antimatter” in a sentence?
Here is “antimatter” used in a sentence: “Scientists have created tiny amounts of antimatter in particle accelerators.”
What part of speech is “antimatter”?
“Antimatter” is a noun.
Where does the word “antimatter” come from?
The word “antimatter” dates back to around 1898. Coined in 1898 by physicist Arthur Schuster in a playful article about hypothetical matter that repels gravity, though the modern scientific meaning only took hold in the 1940s.
