English · Word Candidate

particle

/ˈpɑːtɪkl̩/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: particles

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A very small piece of matter, a fragment; especially, the smallest possible part of something.

Noun

Examples

Be content with the knowledge that, ere the voyage had ended, both she and I were desperately and unreasoningly in love with one another. Heaven knows that I can make the admission now without one particle of vanity.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Any of various physical objects making up the constituent parts of an atom; an elementary particle or subatomic particle.

Noun

Examples

What, he asked himself, does quantum theory have to say about the familiar properties of particles such as position?

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “particle” mean?

A very small piece of matter, a fragment; especially, the smallest possible part of something.

Is “particle” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.