photometry

American  

[foh-tom-i-tree] / foʊˈtɒm ɪ tri /

noun

1. the measurement of the intensity of light or of relative illuminating power.

2. the science dealing with such measurements.

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photometry British  

/ ˌfəʊtəˈmɛtrɪk, fəʊˈtɒmɪtrɪ /

noun

1. the measurement of the intensity of light

2. the branch of physics concerned with such measurements

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photometry Scientific  

/ fō-tŏm′ĭ-trē /

1. The measurement of the intensity, brightness, or other properties of light.

2. Also called photometrics

3. See also luminous intensity

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Other Word Forms

• photometrician
  noun
• photometrist
  noun
• photometric
  adjective
• photometrical
  adjective
• photometrically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of photometry

From the New Latin word photometria, dating back to 1815–25. See photo-, -metry

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

photometry

"A second visit to Eps Ind Ab with JWST: new photometry confirms ammonia and suggests thick clouds in the exoplanet atmosphere of the closest super-Jupiter" in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 22, 2026

For now the galaxies have only been studied by photometry, with spectroscopic analysis planned for July.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 13, 2023

Curious what the rodents’ brain activity might reveal, Hu and her colleagues turned to a technique called fiber photometry, a kind of brain-imaging and mind-control technique all in one.

From Science Magazine ● Jan. 27, 2023

One of the most tried-and-true methods of exoplanet hunting is called transit photometry, which is basically pointing a telescope at a star and measuring the light when a planet swings past.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2022

And photo-electric photometry, measuring smaller differences of light than any other method, and providing more accurate light-curves of the variable stars.

From Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies by David Peck Todd