atomic
Americanadjective
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of, pertaining to, resulting from, or using atoms, atomic energy, or atomic bombs.
an atomic explosion.
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propelled or driven by atomic energy.
an atomic submarine.
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Chemistry. existing as free, uncombined atoms.
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extremely minute.
adjective
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of, using, or characterized by atomic bombs or atomic energy
atomic warfare
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of, related to, or comprising atoms
atomic hydrogen
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extremely small; minute
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logic (of a sentence, formula, etc) having no internal structure at the appropriate level of analysis. In predicate calculus, Fa is an atomic sentence and Fx an atomic predicate
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Relating to an atom or to atoms.
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Employing nuclear energy.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of atomic
Explanation
Something that has to do with atoms is atomic. Atomic structure, for example, means the way an atom is organized and what it's made of. You'll often find the word atomic specifically describing power or weapons — in this case, atomic means the process of either splitting an atom, known as fission, or joining two atoms, fusion, to create energy. Also, every chemical element has its own atomic number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus of one of the element's atoms. Atomic comes from the Latin atomus, "indivisible particle," from the Greek atomos, "uncut" or "indivisible."
Vocabulary lists containing atomic
August Words
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Week 1 Spelling
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STAAR U.S. History 3
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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.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said inspectors will visit enrichment sites in Iran.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026
The vice president said Iran’s invite to inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency was a “major milestone” and the first step in “permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
I just interviewed John Mecklin, editor of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and we talked about existential risks, including nukes.
From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026
Meanwhile, it was announced Rolls-Royce would work with Japan's Atomic Energy Agency to develop next generation nuclear technologies and a technology agreement would link up UK research and development and software expertise with Japanese manufacturing.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
What kind of world is it, Ben thought, that lets its coaches die without his boys around him, buying him Cokes, calling him by his first name, and rubbing his shoulder with Atomic Balm?
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
