English Reference

Word

photon

Phoneticspho·ton

US/ˈfoʊˌtɑn/

UK/fˈəʊtɒn/

Definition

n. a tiny particle of light. It is the smallest possible piece of light energy.

n. the quantum of the electromagnetic field, including electromagnetic radiation such as light. It carries energy proportional to the radiation frequency and has zero rest mass.

Examples

“A photon is a tiny particle of light.”

“When a photon hits a solar panel, it can knock an electron loose to create an electric current.”

“In quantum mechanics, light exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties, with the photon representing the discrete packet of energy that mediates electromagnetic interactions.”

Examples

simple

“A photon is a tiny particle of light.”

contextual

“When a photon hits a solar panel, it can knock an electron loose to create an electric current.”

complex

“In quantum mechanics, light exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties, with the photon representing the discrete packet of energy that mediates electromagnetic interactions.”

Usage

Commonly used in physics and optics; often appears in the plural when discussing light intensity.

Real-World Examples

Common in science writing

“The photons, or light particles, that a molecule releases as it rotates and tumbles in space have frequencies unique to that molecule .”
Phys.org · 16 Aug 2026
“Their outdoor experiment produced entangled photons with about 94% similarity to an ideal state.”
ScienceDaily · 8 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference