dark matter

noun

: nonluminous matter not yet directly detected by astronomers that is hypothesized to exist to account for various observed gravitational effects

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Evidence for dark matter and dark energy comes from large-scale observations, such as those of the cosmic microwave background and distant supernovae. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 Sep. 2022 But dark matter particles, scientists believe, can avoid all of those obstacles. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 18 July 2022 That will give us a map of all of the galaxies, which traces where all of the matter is, which is mostly dark matter. WIRED, 20 Oct. 2022 Physicists have long believed the Standard Model’s pantheon should be bigger to account for phenomena such as dark matter and gravity. Daniel Garisto, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2022 Finding dark matter around galaxies isn’t exactly a new thing. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 3 Aug. 2022 But, there could be another way to detect dark matter. Robert Lea, Popular Mechanics, 29 July 2022 Now that James Webb is working tirelessly, scientists could be closer than ever to finding some type of answer to what dark matter is, and what causes it. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 15 Sep. 2022 Larger and brighter than today’s stars, these first suns coalesced in protogalaxies—clusters of gas that clung to vast, invisible scaffolds of dark matter. Jonathan O'callaghan, Scientific American, 14 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dark matter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dark matter was in 1933

Dictionary Entries Near dark matter

Cite this Entry

“Dark matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dark%20matter. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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