vacuum energy

American  

[vak-yoom en-er-jee, vak-yuhm] / ˈvæk jum ˌɛn ər dʒi, ˈvæk jəm /

noun

1. Physics. the energy present in empty space due to quantum fluctuations, associated with the instantaneous appearance and mutual annihilation of particle–antiparticle pairs and thought to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe.

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vacuum energy Scientific  

1. Background energy in a vacuum associated with constant vacuum fluctuations. Some astronomers believe vacuum energy to be the source of energy for the apparent acceleration of the expansion of the universe.

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Other Word Forms

• vacuum-energy
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vacuum energy

What matters is that this vacuum energy produces a measurable effect.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026

Quantum mechanics suggests that the vacuum of empty space should contain a type of energy known as vacuum energy.

From Science Magazine ● Feb. 26, 2023

"But it's not empty. Think of it as a kind of vacuum energy permeating the fabric of spacetime that defies measure."

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 14, 2018

Various attempts have been made to calculate how big the effects of this vacuum energy should be, but so far these attempts have been unsuccessful.

From Textbooks ● Oct. 13, 2016

Scientists sometimes also call it vacuum energy or, more exotically, quintessence.

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