ultraviolet

adjective

ul·​tra·​vi·​o·​let ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-(ə-)lət How to pronounce ultraviolet (audio)
1
: situated beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end
used of radiation having a wavelength shorter than wavelengths of visible light and longer than those of X-rays
2
: relating to, producing, or employing ultraviolet radiation
ultraviolet noun

Examples of ultraviolet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The lenses of solar eclipse glasses are made of black polymer, or resin infused with carbon particles, which blocks nearly all visible, infrared and ultraviolet light, according to The Planetary Society. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 It’s mainly produced by artificially exposing mushrooms or yeast to ultraviolet light, with the resulting product used in supplements or to fortify various foods. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024 Certified eyewear, on the other hand, is held to an international safety standard and is 100,000 times darker to block nearly all visible, infrared and ultraviolet light. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2024 Research has clearly demonstrated that the majority of melanomas — 86 percent — are attributable to solar ultraviolet radiation. Keyvan Nouri, M.d., Jessica Cervantes and John Tsatalis, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 While fossils typically don’t emit colors under ultraviolet light, Rossi said the reptile’s body appeared yellow — a color often associated with paint. Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 Melanoma is often caused by skin exposure to ultraviolet light, the type of light invisible to the human eye that comes from the sun or indoor tanning beds. Brian Bushard, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 While the majority of smart bulbs are LEDs, some of them are CFL lights, which use ultraviolet light and a fluorescent coating in a tube. Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024 Exposure to ultraviolet light (UV), both natural from the sun and artificial from tanning beds, can cause skin cancer. Drs. Kate Oberlin, Keyvan Nouri and Lawrence Schachner, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ultraviolet.' 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

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ultraviolet was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near ultraviolet

Cite this Entry

“Ultraviolet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ultraviolet. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ultraviolet

adjective
ul·​tra·​vi·​o·​let ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-ə-lət How to pronounce ultraviolet (audio)
1
: located beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end and having a wavelength shorter than those of visible light but longer than those of X-rays
2
: relating to, producing, or using ultraviolet radiation
ultraviolet noun

Medical Definition

ultraviolet

1 of 2 adjective
ul·​tra·​vi·​o·​let ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-(ə-)lət How to pronounce ultraviolet (audio)
1
: situated beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end
used of radiation having a wavelength shorter than wavelengths of visible light and longer than those of X-rays
2
: relating to, producing, or employing ultraviolet radiation

ultraviolet

2 of 2 noun
: ultraviolet radiation

More from Merriam-Webster on ultraviolet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!