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

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 notes

In plain EnglishA form of matter that is the mirror-opposite of ordinary matter and destroys it on contact.

Word forms

antimatters plural

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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.

· First attested 1898

Class of 1898 antimatter joined the language around 1898.

neon Pepsi polonium radioactive

See the full Class of 1898 →

Rhymes for antimatter

matter batter hatter latter patter scatter shatter flatter chatter clatter spatter platter

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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.