Is nanoparticle a common academic word?

Yes. It is common in science, medicine, and engineering writing.

Is a nanoparticle the same as a particle?

No. A nanoparticle is much smaller and more specific.

How do I use nanoparticle in a sentence?

Use it like a normal noun: “Researchers made nanoparticles in the lab.”

Is nanoparticle used in everyday speech?

Not often. People usually hear it in technical or scientific contexts.

← Dictionary

nanoparticle

/ˈnæn.əʊˌpɑː.tɪ.kəl/

IELTSAcademic

noun

A nanoparticle is a very tiny particle, smaller than 100 nanometers across. It is often used in science, medicine, and materials research because its small size gives it special properties.

Scientists studied nanoparticles in the lab.
This cream contains nanoparticles.

Adinary Nuance

A nanoparticle is much smaller and more specific than a particle. It is not the same as a speck, dust, or grain, because it refers to an engineered or studied object at the nanoscale. In science writing, use nanoparticle when size matters and when the object has special properties because of that size.

In other languages

Vietnamese: hạt nano
Spanish: nanopartícula
Chinese: 纳米颗粒
Japanese: ナノ粒子
Korean: 나노입자

Etymology

Nano- comes from Greek nanos, meaning “dwarf.” Particle entered English in the 17th century. The modern scientific word nanoparticle became common in the late 20th century.

Common phrases

gold nanoparticlessilver nanoparticlesnanoparticle researchnanoparticle coating

Synonyms

nanoparticulate nano-particle

Frequently asked questions

Is nanoparticle a common academic word?: Yes. It is common in science, medicine, and engineering writing.
Is a nanoparticle the same as a particle?: No. A nanoparticle is much smaller and more specific.
How do I use nanoparticle in a sentence?: Use it like a normal noun: “Researchers made nanoparticles in the lab.”
Is nanoparticle used in everyday speech?: Not often. People usually hear it in technical or scientific contexts.