fissile
|fis-sile|
/ˈfɪsəl/
capable of splitting
Etymology
'fissile' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'fissilis', where the root 'findere' meant 'to split'.
'fissile' entered English in scientific usage from Medieval/Scientific Latin 'fissilis' (from Latin past participle 'fissus' of 'findere'), maintaining the sense of 'able to be split'.
Initially, it meant 'capable of being split' (in a physical/mineral sense); over time it also acquired the specialized modern meaning 'capable of undergoing nuclear fission'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
capable of being split or cleaved along definite planes or natural surfaces (used of rocks and minerals).
The shale has a fissile texture and splits easily into thin sheets.
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Adjective 2
in nuclear physics, capable of undergoing fission or sustaining a nuclear chain reaction (e.g., certain isotopes).
Uranium-235 is a fissile isotope used in nuclear reactors and weapons.
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Last updated: 2025/11/15 00:56