nuclear power

American  

[noo-klee-er pou-er, nyoo-] / ˈnu kli ər ˈpaʊ ər, ˈnyu- /

noun

1. power derived from nuclear energy.

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nuclear power British  

noun

1. Also called: atomic power.  power, esp electrical or motive, produced by a nuclear reactor

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nuclear power Cultural  

1. The electrical power generated by a nuclear reactor.

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Pronunciation

See nuclear ( def. ).

Etymology

Origin of nuclear power

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

“We clearly need more nuclear power and we’re bullish on it,” says Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

She rejected Washington's attempts to deny or challenge the North's status as a nuclear power, saying it "carries no legal force".

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

He added that there’s going to be a massive supply problem as early as 2027 due to the AI build-out and other countries coming back into nuclear power.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

For most of American history, Congress created new boards or commissions with a specific mission, such as regulating railroad rates in the 1880s or nuclear power in the 1970s.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

It put me in mind of those nuclear power plants where blase technicians had grown so weary of false alarms that they’d begun to miss the real ones, with profound consequences.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• atomic energy