Fermion
/ˈfɜːr.mi.ɑːn/noun
A subatomic particle, such as an electron or quark, that follows Fermi-Dirac statistics and makes up matter.
Did you know?Fermions are the matter-builders of the universe, and their behavior is so fundamental that the word was coined in the 20th century from Fermi’s surname plus the particle-forming suffix -on.
Etymological Timeline
20th Century
English
fermion
“A class of particles obeying Fermi-Dirac statistics.”
20th Century
Italian
Fermi
“The surname of physicist Enrico Fermi.”
20th Century
English
-on
“A particle-naming suffix used in physics terms like boson and neutron.”
20th Century
English
Fermi-Dirac statistics
“The statistical behavior associated with particles that obey the Pauli exclusion principle.”