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

While the mission was designed with dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets in mind, Roman’s unprecedented observational capability will offer practically limitless opportunities for astronomers to explore all kinds of cosmic topics. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026

New research suggests that supermassive black holes that existed before the cosmos was 1 billion years old may have formed with a helping hand from dark matter, the universe's most mysterious stuff. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Pinning down the abundance of ⁴²Ar could immediately improve the reliability of dark matter experiments. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026

And if PBHs make up a smaller percentage of dark matter than currently theorized, then the rates would be even lower. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dark matter

• backscatter
• antimatter
• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• chatter
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• latter