quasiparticle

noun

qua·​si·​par·​ti·​cle ˌkwā-ˌzī-ˈpär-ti-kəl How to pronounce quasiparticle (audio)
-ˌsī-, 
ˌkwä-zē-, 
-sē-
: a composite entity (such as a vibration in a solid) that is analogous in its behavior to a single particle

Examples of quasiparticle 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.
This new device manipulates magnons,the quasiparticle quanta of magnetic spin waves. — IEEE Spectrum, 4 Mar. 2025 On Wednesday, Microsoft released an update on its efforts to build quantum computing hardware based on the physics of quasiparticles that have largely been the domain of theorists. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, 19 Feb. 2025 Similar to braiding weak fibers together to make a strong rope, Microsoft’s approach seeks to create topological quantum bits, or qubits, by manipulating multiple Majorana quasiparticles on one device. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 2 June 2026 Hunting axions with 'quasiparticles' The foundation of the team's dark matter detector is the development of an axion quasiparticle using a material known for its unique electronic and magnetic characteristics called manganese bismuth telluride. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for quasiparticle

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quasiparticle was in 1926

Rhymes for quasiparticle

See All Rhymes for quasiparticle

Browse Nearby Words

quasi-optical
quasiparticle
quasi partner
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quasiparticle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quasiparticle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on quasiparticle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quasiparticle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All