dark matter

noun

: nonluminous matter not yet directly detected by astronomers that is hypothesized to exist to account for various observed gravitational effects

Examples of dark matter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The team then ran thousands of simulations, testing which combinations of globular cluster properties and dark matter distributions could reproduce the stream's observed brightness and shape. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The telescope will help astronomers explore mysterious dark matter and dark energy. — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Apart from mapping the pre-star universe, CosmoCube will also investigate how mysterious dark matter functioned in the early cosmos. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026 By tracing that history, researchers can then learn how the galaxy’s mass is distributed, including the unseen dark matter that shapes its gravitational field. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dark matter

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dark matter was in 1933

Rhymes for dark matter

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Browse Nearby Words

darkly
dark matter
dark meat
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Cite this Entry

“Dark matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dark%20matter. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dark matter

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dark matter

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