Higgs boson

noun

ˈhigz- How to pronounce Higgs boson (audio)
: an elementary particle that has zero spin and large mass and that is required by some gauge theories to account for the masses of other elementary particles

Examples of Higgs boson in a Sentence

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More than 60 nations contributed to the Higgs boson discovery. — Lisa Song, CNN Money, 28 July 2026 Three of the women behind that clearance are particle physicists who worked on the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN. — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 In 2012, the laboratory found the Higgs boson, or the God particle, which helped scientists understand how particles acquire mass. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026 The theory of electroweak unification was vindicated with the subsequent discovery of the massive W-and-Z bosons, and later, the entire mechanism was validated with the discovery of the Higgs boson. — Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Higgs boson

Word History

Etymology

Peter W. Higgs †2024 British physicist

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Higgs boson was in 1974

Rhymes for Higgs boson

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Higgs
Higgs boson
Higgs field
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Cite this Entry

“Higgs boson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Higgs%20boson. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Higgs boson

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Higgs boson

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