fissile
Americanadjective
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capable of being split or divided; cleavable.
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Physics.
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(of a nuclide) capable of undergoing fission induced by low-energy neutrons, as uranium 233 and 235.
adjective
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capable of undergoing nuclear fission as a result of the impact of slow neutrons
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another word for fissionable
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tending to split or capable of being split
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fissile
1655–65; < Latin fissilis, equivalent to fiss ( us ) ( see fissi-) + -ilis -ile
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.
Independent arms control experts estimate North Korea may have developed 60 nuclear warheads and have enough fissile material for up to 90.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Both Leavitt and Hegseth, however, mentioned that the United States wants to ensure Iran does not have stockpiles of enriched uranium, the fissile material that is key in developing nuclear weapons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
Those are the stockpiles of fissile material and the deep-underground Pickaxe Mountain site that could in time be used to enrich it to weapons-grade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
Its magic trick is that 0.7% of the element found in nature is fissile.
From Barron's ● Dec. 26, 2025
The discovery of a fissile isotope that could be separated from its parent by chemical means might quell the skepticism still bogging down the uranium program.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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