radioisotope

American  

[rey-dee-oh-ahy-suh-tohp] / ˌreɪ di oʊˈaɪ səˌtoʊp /

noun

1. a radioactive isotope, usually artificially produced: used in physical and biological research, therapeutics, etc.

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radioisotope British  

/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˈaɪsətəʊp, ˌreɪdɪəʊˌaɪsəˈtɒpɪk /

noun

1. an isotope that is radioactive

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radioisotope Scientific  

/ rā′dē-ō-ī′sə-tōp′ /

1. A radioactive isotope of a chemical element. Carbon 14 and radon 222 are examples of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes.

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Other Word Forms

• radioisotopic adjective

Etymology

Origin of radioisotope

First recorded in 1940–45; radio- + isotope

Example Sentences

The radioisotope is tagged to substances that will go to whatever area doctors are interested in, for example the bones.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2025

Less dramatically, everyday operations of nuclear reactors, mining and processing of uranium into fuel rods, and the disposal of spent nuclear fuel also require monitoring of radioisotope release.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2024

The probes use three plutonium dioxide radioisotope thermoelectric generators.

From Salon • May 7, 2023

For the weapon’s radiation to be lethal, the radioisotope used would have to have a strong enough intensity to harm people.

From New York Times • Oct. 25, 2022

It was not long before he found the medical radioisotope of his dreams.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik