electromagnetic radiation

noun

: energy in the form of electromagnetic waves
also : a series of electromagnetic waves

Examples of electromagnetic radiation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Alpha particles are just the nuclei of helium atoms, beta particles are electrons, and gamma rays are a type of very high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024 Most other electromagnetic radiation won’t travel through Earth’s atmosphere. IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2023 No light can illuminate it because of its inability to have significant interactions with any kind of electromagnetic radiation. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 19 Dec. 2023 Some use light or low-power electromagnetic radiation (similar to cell phones or smart watches), combined with antennas and electronics, to peer into tissue. Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2021 This has included solar flares — large eruptions of electromagnetic radiation lasting minutes to hours and traveling outward at the speed of light. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2023 Different molecules absorb different electromagnetic radiation frequencies depending on their molecular structure. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Nov. 2023 Winkel points out that international regulations limit how much electromagnetic radiation smartphones and TVs can leak—but so far these rules haven’t been applied to satellites. Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2023 Mather won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2006, along with George Smoot, for his work using the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), a satellite that operated from 1989 to 1993, to map the electromagnetic radiation produced by the Big Bang. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 12 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'electromagnetic radiation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of electromagnetic radiation was in 1891

Dictionary Entries Near electromagnetic radiation

Cite this Entry

“Electromagnetic radiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electromagnetic%20radiation. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

electromagnetic radiation

noun
: energy in the form of electromagnetic waves
also : a series of electromagnetic waves

Medical Definition

electromagnetic radiation

noun
: a series of electromagnetic waves

More from Merriam-Webster on electromagnetic radiation

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