TechnologyJuly 13, 2026

optoelectronics

/ˌɒptoʊɪlɛkˈtrɒnɪks/

Definition

The branch of technology concerned with the combined use of light and electricity, particularly in devices that emit, detect, or control light.

Etymology

The word is a blend of 'opto-' (derived from the Greek 'optikos' for visual) and 'electronics' (from 'electron'). It emerged in the mid-20th century to describe the fusion of optical physics and electronic engineering.

In the news

The article identifies LITEON as a manufacturer specializing in optoelectronics to highlight the company's technical expertise in supporting cloud computing and AI infrastructure.

Governor Abbott announces massive AI tech investment in North Texas

Read the full article ↗

FOX 7 Austin

Related words

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.