radiocarbon

American  

[rey-dee-oh-kahr-buhn] / ˌreɪ di oʊˈkɑr bən /

noun

Chemistry.

1. Also called carbon 14.  a radioactive isotope of carbon with mass number 14 and a half-life of about 5730 years: widely used in the dating of organic materials.

2. any radioactive isotope of carbon.

---

radiocarbon British  

/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˈkɑːbən /

noun

1. a radioactive isotope of carbon, esp carbon-14 See carbon

---

radiocarbon Scientific  

/ rā′dē-ō-kär′bən /

1. A radioactive isotope of carbon, especially carbon 14. Other radiocarbons include carbon 10, carbon 11, carbon 15, and carbon 16.

---

Etymology

Origin of radiocarbon

First recorded in 1935–40; radio- + carbon

Example Sentences

Using radiocarbon dating along with genetic and protein testing, the team confirmed that the Late Bronze Age specimens are the oldest goat remains yet identified in Ireland.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026

The exact burial location of the Beachy Head Woman remains unknown, but radiocarbon dating indicates she died between 129 and 311 AD, aligning with the Roman period in Britain.

From Science Daily • Jan. 25, 2026

Scientists' latest discovery is based on DNA analysis of the skeleton, which has been radiocarbon dated to between 129 and 311 AD.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

Researchers examined numerous hippopotamus fossils using both genetic and radiocarbon dating methods.

From Science Daily • Oct. 26, 2025

The occupation could have been even more rapid than that apparent spread of dates from 40,000 to 30,000 years ago, since the various dates hardly differ within the experimental error of the radiocarbon method.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond