particle physics

American  

noun

1. the branch of physics that deals with the properties and behavior of elementary particles.

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particle physics British  

noun

1. Also called: high-energy physics.  the study of fundamental particles and their properties

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particle physics Scientific  

1. The branch of physics that deals with subatomic particles.

2. See also quantum field theory quantum mechanics

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particle physics Cultural  

1. The branch of science devoted to the study of the basic constituents of matter, particularly the constituents of the atomic nucleus.

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Etymology

Origin of particle physics

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The British physicist-turned-computer scientist conceived the web in 1989 while working at CERN, the European particle physics lab in Switzerland.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

The researchers published their findings in the journal Nature, describing one of the most precise particle physics calculations ever completed.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

Because of this extreme complexity, accurately predicting the muon's behavior within the Standard Model has remained one of the most difficult problems in particle physics.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

Correction 20 March: This piece was updated to remove a claim that the entire proposed cut of £162m was to research into particle physics and astronomy.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

In fact, everything in particle physics was about to get a whole lot more complicated.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• quantum mechanics