tritium

noun

tri·​ti·​um ˈtri-tē-əm How to pronounce tritium (audio) ˈtri-shē- How to pronounce tritium (audio)
: a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that has one proton and two neutrons in its nucleus and that has three times the mass of ordinary hydrogen
symbol T

Examples of tritium 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.
In the tokamak, scientists will heat up deuterium and tritium to 100 million degrees Celsius and fuse them together—producing heat that can be converted to electricity in the process. Justin Worland, Time, 17 July 2025 Both use different approaches to achieve a promising form of nuclear fusion called magnetic confinement, which aims to ignite a fusion reaction in a plasma of the neutron-heavy hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium. Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 2 July 2025 Oh yes, and there's also the obligatory slot for an optional vial of glow-in-the-dark tritium. New Atlas, 19 June 2025 Low levels of tritium were found in ground water last year, and the latest monitoring showed that concentrations have declined along the western side of Unit 2. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tritium

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek tritos third — more at third entry 1

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tritium was in 1933

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tritium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tritium. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

tritium

noun
tri·​ti·​um ˈtrit-ē-əm How to pronounce tritium (audio) ˈtrish-ē- How to pronounce tritium (audio)
: a rare radioactive form of hydrogen having atoms with three times the mass of ordinary light hydrogen atoms

Medical Definition

tritium

noun
tri·​ti·​um ˈtrit-ē-əm How to pronounce tritium (audio) ˈtrish-ē- How to pronounce tritium (audio)
: a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that has three times the mass of ordinary hydrogen
symbol T

More from Merriam-Webster on tritium

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