English Reference

Word

krypton

Phoneticskryp·ton

US/ˈkɹɪptɑn/

UK/kɹˈɪptən/

Definition

n. a rare, colorless, and odorless gas that is used in special lights and lasers. It is also the name of a fictional planet in comic books.

n. a colorless, odorless, and tasteless noble gas that occurs in trace amounts in the atmosphere. It is used in high-intensity discharge lamps and as a laser medium; also the name of the home planet of Superman in DC Comics.

Examples

“Krypton is used in some types of street lamps.”

“The scientist explained that krypton is one of the noble gases that do not react with other elements under normal conditions.”

“While krypton is primarily valued for its inert properties in industrial lighting, its fictional association with Superman's home world has cemented its place in popular culture as a symbol of immense power and mystery.”

Examples

simple

“Krypton is used in some types of street lamps.”

contextual

“The scientist explained that krypton is one of the noble gases that do not react with other elements under normal conditions.”

complex

“While krypton is primarily valued for its inert properties in industrial lighting, its fictional association with Superman's home world has cemented its place in popular culture as a symbol of immense power and mystery.”

Real-World Examples

“The study, published June 8 in Communications Physics, reports that the team used indirect experimental techniques to extract previously inaccessible information about how an isotope of a separate element—krypton—absorbs, or captures, neutrons.”
Phys.org · 17 Sept 2026

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κρυπτός (kruptós, “hidden”) + -on, used for all noble gases.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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