fissile

American  

[fis-uhl] / ˈfɪs əl /

adjective

1. capable of being split or divided; cleavable.

2. Physics.

   1. fissionable.

   2. (of a nuclide) capable of undergoing fission induced by low-energy neutrons, as uranium 233 and 235.

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fissile British  

/ ˈfɪsaɪl, fɪˈsɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. capable of undergoing nuclear fission as a result of the impact of slow neutrons

2. another word for fissionable

3. tending to split or capable of being split

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Other Word Forms

• fissility noun
• nonfissile adjective
• nonfissility noun
• unfissile adjective

Etymology

Origin of fissile

1655–65; < Latin fissilis, equivalent to fiss ( us ) ( fissi- ) + -ilis -ile

Example Sentences

"Iran has been at a near-zero breakout for months," she told the BBC, referring to the time it would take Iran to acquire enough fissile material for one bomb if it chose to do so.

From BBC

It is unclear when Mr Kim made the visit and if the site is at the North's sprawling Yongbyon nuclear complex, which produces fissile material for Pyongyang's nuclear weapons.

From BBC

Washington, however, is preparing to conduct next year at the Nevada Test Site two so-called subcritical experiments involving fissile materials in amounts too small to ignite a nuclear explosion.

From Reuters

“I don’t think they are short of fissile materials,” said Mr. Lankov.

From Washington Times

The isotope U-235 is fissile, which means that it can be split in a reaction that releases a lot of energy.

From Salon