field-effect transistor

noun

field-ef·​fect transistor ˈfēld-ə-ˌfekt- How to pronounce field-effect transistor (audio)
: a transistor in which the output current is controlled by a variable electric field

Examples of field-effect transistor 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.
The physical component responsible for this switching behavior is the transistor, most commonly a field-effect transistor. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026 Clipper relies on metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors, or MOSFETs, made by Infineon Technologies, a company that also supplies electronics to military customers. — science.org, 19 Sep. 2024 The transistors, silicon MOSFETs (metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors), contain an oxide layer that’s particularly vulnerable to radiation damage. — Katherine Bourzac, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for field-effect transistor

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of field-effect transistor was in 1952

Rhymes for field-effect transistor

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Browse Nearby Words

fielded panel
field-effect transistor
field emission
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Cite this Entry

“Field-effect transistor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/field-effect%20transistor. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on field-effect transistor

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about field-effect transistor

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