The subatomic particle having a negative charge and orbiting the nucleus; the flow of electrons in a conductor constitutes electricity.
"The tiny electron orbits the atom's nucleus before flowing through the wire to create an electric current."
In plain English: An electron is a tiny, negatively charged particle that orbits around an atom's nucleus and helps electricity flow through wires.
"The electron zipped around the nucleus at incredible speeds."
Usage: An electron is a fundamental subatomic particle with a negative charge that orbits an atom's nucleus, distinct from protons or neutrons within the same structure. In everyday contexts involving physics or electronics, it refers specifically to these particles whose collective movement through conductors creates electric current.
The word "electron" was coined in 1891 by George Stoney as a blend of "electric" and "ion" to describe the electric charge associated with an ion. Although Stoney had previously used different names like "electrine," he settled on this term after scientists began referring to the particle itself as the electron.