nanometer

noun

nano·​me·​ter ˈna-nə-ˌmē-tər How to pronounce nanometer (audio)
: one billionth of a meter

Examples of nanometer 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.
One mirror focused the X-rays vertically, while the other focused them horizontally, concentrating the beam into a spot measuring just 180 × 330 nanometers. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 Microplastics are usually defined as particles smaller than five millimeters, while the minimum cutoff varies between 100 and 1,000 nanometers. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026 The 3-nanometer chips accounted for the largest share of its revenue in the third quarter at 33%, followed by 5- and 7-nanometer chips. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 The typical size of quantum objects is a nanometer, or one-billionth of a meter. — Sophya Garashchuk, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nanometer

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nanometer was in 1963

Rhymes for nanometer

See All Rhymes for nanometer

Browse Nearby Words

nanomachine
nanometer
Nanook
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Cite this Entry

“Nanometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nanometer. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nanometer

noun
nano·​meter
ˈnan-ə-ˌmēt-ər
: one billionth of a meter

Medical Definition

nanometer

noun
nano·​me·​ter
variants or chiefly British nanometre
ˈnan-ə-ˌmēt-ər How to pronounce nanometer (audio)
: one billionth of a meter
—abbreviation nm
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