rem

¹ American  

[rem] / rɛm /

noun

Nucleonics.

1. the quantity of ionizing radiation whose biological effect is equal to that produced by one roentgen of x-rays.

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REM ² American  

[rem] / rɛm /

noun

1. rapid eye movement.

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REM ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. rapid eye movement

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REM ² British  

/ rɛm /

acronym

1. roentgen equivalent man

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rem Scientific  

/ rĕm /

1. The amount of ionizing radiation required to produce the same biological effect as one rad of high-penetration x-rays. The rem has been replaced in most scientific contexts by the sievert.

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rem Cultural  

1. An acronym for r oentgen e quivalent m an. A unit of absorbed doses of radiation.

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Discover More

A normal medical x-ray delivers about 0.02 rem; a fatal dose of radiation is several thousand rem.

Etymology

Origin of rem¹

1945–50; r(oentgen) e(quivalent in) m(an)

Origin of REM²

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

The legal limit for radiation exposure in the workplace is 5 rem per year.

From Slate • Dec. 11, 2015

Since about 20 percent of all worldwide deaths are from cancer, the increase due to a 1 rem exposure is impossible to detect demographically.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

I wouldn’t dream of doing something as stupid as leaving my home and ruining my life by becoming a refugee for 5 rem per year, let alone 2 rem.

From Forbes • May 19, 2013

In comparison, a dental X-ray delivers up to 15 millirems, or thousandaths of a rem, and a mammogram delivers a dose of about 70 millirems.

From Time • Mar. 3, 2012

Being of his flesh born they had his name Foreth rem ir Osborth, and were reared in that Clanhearth.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin