Photon
/ˈfoʊ.tɑːn/noun
A particle of light and other electromagnetic radiation.
Did you know?Photon was coined in 1926 from Greek phōs, phōt- meaning “light,” and it’s part of the same ancient root family that gave us words for seeing, shining, and even photography.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
φῶς (phōs), φωτ- (phōt-)
“light”
1926
English
photon
“a quantum of electromagnetic radiation”
Modern English
English
photon
“a particle of light or other electromagnetic radiation”
Ancient Greek
Greek
φαίνω (phaínō)
“to bring to light; make appear”