nuclear energy
Americannoun
noun
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The energy released by the nucleus of an atom as the result of nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or radioactive decay. The amount of energy released by the nuclear fission of a given mass of uranium is about 2,500,000 times greater than that released by the combustion of an equal mass of carbon. And the amount of energy released by the nuclear fusion of a given mass of deuterium is about 400 times greater that that released by the nuclear fission of an equal mass of uranium.
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Also called atomic energy
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Electricity generated by a nuclear reactor.
Pronunciation
See nuclear ( def. ).
Etymology
Origin of nuclear energy
First recorded in 1925–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rising power use at AI data centers is boosting demand for uranium-fueled nuclear energy.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
The global artificial intelligence buildout, with its insatiable appetite for reliable baseload electricity to power data centers, is accelerating that interest in nuclear energy further.
From Salon • May 21, 2026
The Trump administration announced another $94 million in cost-sharing grants as it continues to encourage the buildout of the nuclear energy sector.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
However, Wang added, “China supports Iran’s efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and security,” including its right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
From Slate • May 7, 2026
The commission’s most important bequest from the Pentagon’s nuclear energy apparatus was the Manhattan District’s network of atomic labs, which Groves had kept intact after the war.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
