tachyon

noun

tachy·​on ˈta-kē-ˌän How to pronounce tachyon (audio)
: a hypothetical particle held to travel faster than light

Examples of tachyon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The introduction of supersymmetry also solved the nasty problem of tachyons by replacing those troublesome particles with supersymmetric partners, which was a nice flourish. — Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2023 Unfortunately, this proto-string theory made incorrect predictions about the nature of the strong force and also had a variety of troublesome artifacts (like the existence of tachyons, particles that only traveled faster than light). — Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

tachy- + -on entry 2

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tachyon was in 1967

Browse Nearby Words

tachymetry
tachyon
tachypnea
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tachyon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tachyon. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tachyon

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