particle
noun
par·ti·cle
ˈpär-ti-kəl 
1
a
: a minute quantity or fragment
b
: a relatively small or the smallest discrete portion or amount of something
2
archaic
: a clause or article of a composition or document
3
: any of the basic units of matter and energy (such as a molecule, atom, proton, electron, or photon)
4
: a unit of speech expressing some general aspect of meaning or some connective or limiting relation and including the articles, most prepositions and conjunctions, and some interjections and adverbs
the particle up has a perfective meaning in phrases such as beat up and cut up
5
: a small eucharistic wafer distributed to a Roman Catholic layman at Communion
Examples of particle in a Sentence
There is not a particle of evidence to support their claim.
There is not a particle of truth in what he said.
The phrasal verb “look up” consists of the verb “look” and the adverbial particle “up.”
Recent Examples on the Web
The science transparency rule in the first Trump administration was intended to limit the EPA’s ability to consider epidemiologic studies like those that established the health harms from exposure to secondhand smoke and to PM2.5, fine particles often from pollution.
—
H. Christopher Frey, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
Large particles from Sahara dust can also cause skin and eye irritation, the CDC said.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 4 June 2025
For particle pollution, this is the average of 24 hourly values.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
It is based on ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
—Steve Karnowski, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for particle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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H. Christopher Frey, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
Large particles from Sahara dust can also cause skin and eye irritation, the CDC said.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 4 June 2025
For particle pollution, this is the average of 24 hourly values.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
It is based on ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
—Steve Karnowski, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for particle
Cite this Entry
“Particle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/particle. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
particle
noun
par·ti·cle
ˈpärt-i-kəl
1
: one of the very small parts of matter (as a molecule, atom, or electron)
2
: a very small quantity or piece
3
: the smallest possible portion
Medical Definition
particle
noun
par·ti·cle
ˈpärt-i-kəl
1
: one of the minute subdivisions of matter (as an atom or molecule)
also
: elementary particle
2
: a minute quantity or fragment
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