solid-state

American  

[sol-id-steyt] / ˈsɒl ɪdˈsteɪt /

adjective

Electronics.

1. designating or pertaining to electronic devices, as transistors or crystals, that can control current without the use of moving parts, heated filaments, or vacuum gaps.

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solid-state British  

noun

1. (modifier) (of an electronic device) activated by a semiconductor component in which current flow is through solid material rather than in a vacuum

2. (modifier) of, concerned with, characteristic of, or consisting of solid matter

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Etymology

Origin of solid-state

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

solid-state

"They confirm that our unusual approach of using methods from quantum information science for solid-state physics studies of novel materials can reveal fundamentally new insight."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 8, 2026

Supplies of smaller memory processors, like solid-state drives, are drying up on the market, fueling a crunch that’s hitting smartphones and laptops of all brands.

From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026

The Congressional Research Service estimated that shipboard, solid-state lasers can fire at a marginal cost between $1 and $10 per shot.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

Almost all the innovations we regularly hear about—from cheaper, tougher electric-vehicle batteries to “Holy Grail” solid-state batteries—are about changing the chemistry of batteries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

One of the parts in the design had been a solenoid, part No. M1537, which handled a switching operation too potent for a solid-state switch.

From The Trouble with Telstar by Schoenherr, John