Meanings
plural equivalent doses
- biologyThe 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).
Synonyms: dose equivalent
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe 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).
Origin
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.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
equivalent dose. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/equivalent%20dose
“equivalent dose.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/equivalent%20dose. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “equivalent dose,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/equivalent%20dose.
Source: equivalent dose on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.