background radiation

noun

: the microwave radiation pervading the universe that exhibits a corresponding blackbody temperature of 2.7 K and that is the principal evidence supporting the big bang theory

called also cosmic background radiation

Examples of background radiation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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They also can be produced by interactions between high-energy cosmic rays and the universe's background radiation. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025 Earth is naturally radioactive, so we are all constantly exposed to a small amount of background radiation. Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 Feb. 2025 By comparison, a person on Earth receives an average of 2 mSv every year from just background radiation, NASA said. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2024 We're constantly exposed to background radiation just by living on Earth. Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for background radiation 

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of background radiation was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near background radiation

Cite this Entry

“Background radiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/background%20radiation. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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