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particle physics

American  

noun

  1. the branch of physics that deals with the properties and behavior of elementary particles.

particle physics British  

noun

  1. Also called: high-energy physics.  the study of fundamental particles and their properties

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
particle physics Scientific  

  1. The branch of physics that deals with subatomic particles.

  2. See also quantum field theory quantum mechanics

particle physics Cultural  

  1. The branch of science devoted to the study of the basic constituents of matter, particularly the constituents of the atomic nucleus.

Etymology

Origin of particle physics

First recorded in 1945–50

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.

He added that the UK was and would continue to be the second biggest funder of particle physics experiments at CERN.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Prof Jon Butterworth of University College London, described the level of cuts as "existentially threatening" to UK particle physics.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Today's standard picture of the universe is built on Einstein's general theory of relativity and the standard model of particle physics.

From Science Daily • Jan. 11, 2026

But the science that shapes our world, from particle physics to protein design to advanced materials, increasingly requires massive data sets, large integrated teams and sustained institutional support.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

In fact, everything in particle physics was about to get a whole lot more complicated.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

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.