radionuclide

noun

ra·​dio·​nu·​clide ˌrā-dē-ō-ˈnü-ˌklīd How to pronounce radionuclide (audio)
-ˈnyü-
: a radioactive nuclide

Examples of radionuclide 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 summer, the group began providing free water testing so residents can see if their well water contains heavy metals and radionuclides. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2026 Enter radionuclide therapy, a class of cancer medicines which deliver radioactive atoms or radionuclides, to tumors deep inside the body with extreme precision. — Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2026 These studies have shown that radionuclide movement is influenced by environmental factors, such as soil composition, moisture and biological activity, and that contamination can remain mobile and biologically relevant for decades. — Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026 The leak caught on camera Researchers discovered a visible plume of radioactive material escaping from a ventilation pipe near the reactor compartment, corroborated by elevated radionuclide levels in water samples and plutonium isotope ratios. — Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for radionuclide

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of radionuclide was in 1947

Rhymes for radionuclide

See All Rhymes for radionuclide

Browse Nearby Words

radionics
radionuclide
radio observatory
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Radionuclide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radionuclide. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

radionuclide

noun
ra·​dio·​nu·​clide -ˈn(y)ü-ˌklīd How to pronounce radionuclide (audio)
: a radioactive nuclide
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of deportment

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
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
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All