radioisotope

[ rey-dee-oh-ahy-suh-tohp ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a radioactive isotope, usually artificially produced: used in physical and biological research, therapeutics, etc.

radioisotope

/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˈaɪsətəʊp; ˌreɪdɪəʊˌaɪsəˈtɒpɪk /

noun

an isotope that is radioactive

radioisotope

/ rā′dē-ō-ī′sə-tōp′ /

A radioactive isotope of a chemical element. Carbon 14 and radon 222 are examples of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes.

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Derived Forms

radioisotopic, adjective

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Other Words From

ra·di·o·i·so·top·ic [rey-dee-oh-ahy-s, uh, -, top, -ik], adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of radioisotope¹

First recorded in 1940–45; radio- + isotope

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Example Sentences

Radioisotope analysis also shows it is likely more than 100,000 years old, though the findings are not yet peer-reviewed.

From Popular-Science

One of the biggest would be maintaining its power source—an array of radioisotope thermoelectric generators, or what amount to nuclear batteries—on such a long journey.

From MIT Technology Review

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