isotope
noun
iso·tope
ˈī-sə-ˌtōp 
1
: any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties
2
: nuclide
Examples of isotope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Geomagnetic storms trigger high amounts of cosmic rays in Earth's upper atmosphere, which in turn produce carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon.
—
David Wallace, CBS News, 14 May 2024
Mariana is a three-year-old company developing medicines that drop radioactive isotopes on cancer cells, decimating them in a more potent way than traditional radiation treatment.
—Allison Deangelis, STAT, 2 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for isotope 
David Wallace, CBS News, 14 May 2024
Mariana is a three-year-old company developing medicines that drop radioactive isotopes on cancer cells, decimating them in a more potent way than traditional radiation treatment.
—Allison Deangelis, STAT, 2 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for isotope
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'isotope.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Isotope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/isotope. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
isotope
noun
iso·tope
ˈī-sə-ˌtōp
: any of the forms of an element that differ in the number of neutrons in an atom
Medical Definition
isotope
noun
iso·tope
ˈī-sə-ˌtōp
1
: any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and position in the periodic table and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties
2
: nuclide
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