ScienceAugust 21, 2026

atomistic

at-uh-MIS-tik

Definition

Relating to or based on the study of matter at the level of individual atoms or molecules.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'atomos' meaning 'indivisible' (the root of 'atom') plus the suffix '-istic' indicating a characteristic or mode of operation. It emerged in the 19th century to describe theories or approaches that explain complex systems by breaking them down into their smallest constituent parts.

In the news

Dr. Meral Sharkass specializes in atomistic modeling, which is used in this article to describe her research into radiation damage and fusion applications at the atomic scale.

Missouri S&T welcomes new faculty

Read the full article ↗

Missouri S&T

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