paramagnetic

adjective

para·​mag·​net·​ic ˌper-ə-mag-ˈne-tik How to pronounce paramagnetic (audio)
ˌpa-rə-
: being or relating to a magnetizable substance (such as aluminum) that has small but positive susceptibility which varies little with magnetizing force
paramagnetically adverb
paramagnetism noun

Examples of paramagnetic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Early in her novel, a woman is frozen to death with a chemical refrigerant made of paramagnetic salts: a Lot’s wife for the Information Age. Ian Wang, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2023 Worker honeybees navigate using rings of paramagnetic iron oxide in their abdomens that swell or shrink depending on outside magnetic changes, allowing the insects to find their way home by following changes in the Earth’s magnetic fields. Molly Loomis, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2014 Lipids are also not ferromagnetic, but can be paramagnetic if certain specific conditions are met. Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 23 June 2021 This sort of behavior is very similar to the behavior of, for instance, the orientation of magnetic spins during a paramagnetic phase transition. Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 16 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paramagnetic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paramagnetic was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near paramagnetic

Cite this Entry

“Paramagnetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramagnetic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

paramagnetic

adjective
para·​mag·​net·​ic ˌpar-ə-mag-ˈnet-ik How to pronounce paramagnetic (audio)
: being or relating to a magnetizable substance (as aluminum) that has a small but positive susceptibility which varies little with magnetizing force
paramagnetism noun
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