1
: relating to the properties, structure, or reactivity of solid material
especially : relating to the arrangement or behavior of ions, molecules, nucleons, electrons, and holes in the crystals of a substance (such as a semiconductor) or to the effect of crystal imperfections on the properties of a solid substance
solid-state physics
2
a
: utilizing the electric, magnetic, or optical properties of solid materials
solid-state circuitry
b
: using semiconductor devices rather than electron tubes
a solid-state radio

Examples of solid-state 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.
Ventiva aims to use solid-state ionic cooling to replace laptop fans, eliminating moving parts, vibration, and noise. John Burek, PC Magazine, 5 July 2026 Enterprise solid-state drives, or SSDs, are storage devices designed for data centers. Jenny Lee, CNBC, 2 July 2026 Interestingly, this adjustment boosted the material’s current density by over 300 percent, a leap that could enable faster-charging and longer-lasting solid-state batteries. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026 Meanwhile, Heron Power raised $140 million earlier this year to scale production of solid-state transformers designed specifically to address growing grid bottlenecks linked to AI data center electrification. Andrea Sguazzi, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for solid-state

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1951, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of solid-state was circa 1951

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Cite this Entry

“Solid-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solid-state. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

solid-state

adjective
1
: relating to the characteristics and structure of solid material
2
: using semiconductor devices rather than electron tubes
a solid-state radio
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