Etymology

equivalent dose

Today it means: The radiation dose as adjusted by a factor for radiation type (for example, X-rays or gamma rays versus alpha rays). Like several other dose types, expressed by SI in sieverts (non-SI, in rems). Full definition →

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The story

From the notion of an equal result as compared across types of radiation that have different potency of biological effect (for example, within the body, alpha rays are more deleterious than X-rays). Wikipedia explains at relative biological effectiveness.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.