French word

radioactivité

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁadjoaktivite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounradioactivity

Example

La radioactivité est dangereuse.

Radioactivity is dangerous.

Illustration for radioactivité (radioactivity)

More examples

Les autorités ont mesuré la radioactivité dans l'eau potable.

The authorities measured the radioactivity in drinking water.

Core concept

Invisible emissions continually leaving matter on their own.

Common phrases

  • contrôle de la radioactivité

    radioactivity monitoring

  • mesure de la radioactivité

    radioactivity measurement

Similar words

radiation: Electromagnetic waves or particles released from a source.
rayonnement: The outward spread of energy or particles from matter.
contamination: A state in which radioactive material is present on or within something.
dose: The quantity of radiation received by a person or object.

Definition in French

Propriété d'une substance de libérer des radiations ionisantes spontanément.

Word origin

Radioactivité combines radio-, from Latin radius meaning 'ray', with activité, and became an established physics term in the late nineteenth century.

Usage tips

  • Radioactivité is feminine, so standard usage is la radioactivité, with feminine adjectives such as forte or faible.

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