radioisotope

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

noun

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

radioisotope

/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˈaɪsətəʊp; ˌreɪdɪəʊˌaɪsəˈtɒpɪk /

noun

1. an isotope that is radioactive

radioisotope

/ rā′dē-ō-ī′sə-tōp′ /

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

Derived Forms

• radioisotopic, adjective

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of radioisotope¹

First recorded in 1940–45; radio- + isotope

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Radioisotope analysis also shows it is likely more than 100,000 years old, though the findings are not yet peer-reviewed.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