nuclear
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or involving atomic weapons.
nuclear war.
-
operated or powered by atomic energy.
a nuclear submarine.
-
(of a nation or group of nations) having atomic weapons.
-
of, relating to, or forming a nucleus.
-
of, relating to, or like the nuclear family.
nuclear bonds.
noun
adjective
-
of, concerned with, or involving the nucleus of an atom
nuclear fission
-
biology of, relating to, or contained within the nucleus of a cell
a nuclear membrane
-
of, relating to, forming, or resembling any other kind of nucleus
-
of, concerned with, or operated by energy from fission or fusion of atomic nuclei
a nuclear weapon
-
involving, concerned with, or possessing nuclear weapons
nuclear war
a nuclear strike
-
Relating to or forming a cell nucleus.
-
Relating to atomic nuclei.
-
Using energy derived from the nuclei of atoms through fission or fusion reactions.
Pronunciation
In pronouncing nuclear, the second and third syllables are most commonly said as , a sequence of sounds that directly reflects the spelled sequence ‑cle·ar. In recent years, a somewhat controversial pronunciation has come to public attention, with these two final syllables said as . Since , the common pronunciation of ‑cle·ar, might also be represented, broadly, as , the pronunciation can be seen as coming from a process of metathesis, in which the and the change places. The resulting pronunciation is reinforced by analogy with such words as molecular, particular, and muscular, and although it occurs with some frequency among highly educated speakers, including scientists, professors, and government officials, it is disapproved of by many.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nuclear
Explanation
Nuclear describes something that has to do with the nucleus — the central part — of an atom. If you're a nuclear physicist, you do a lot of work with that part of the atom. Nuclear power, which comes from nuclear fission — the energy released when the nucleus of an atom is split — is a controversial source of renewable energy. The word nuclear is sometimes used broadly to refer to the core of something. Your nuclear family is you, your parents, and your siblings — in a sense, the central part of your world, kind of like the nucleus of an atom.
Vocabulary lists containing nuclear
The Sweltering Words of Summer
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Russia - Middle School and High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Europe’s other nuclear power, the U.K., and the remaining alliance members.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
For now, France has created 10 separate steering groups with “forward deterrence” partners, and is holding talks in a hub-and-spokes bilateral fashion rather than gathering them all together in a nuclear club.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
“The French nuclear arsenal, by contrast, can reach Russia.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
Observing changes in nuclear shape and migration patterns after weeks of exposure provided evidence that glioblastoma cells can adapt to their mechanical environment in lasting ways.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
The new Soviet leaders quickly expanded their stockpile of nuclear weapons.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
