electric field

noun

: a region associated with a distribution of electric charge or a varying magnetic field in which forces due to that charge or field act upon other electric charges

Examples of electric field in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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One common method for encoding this information is through polarization, which is the orientation of a photon’s electric field. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025 Most importantly, electric fields can either push or pull on electric charges, depending on their direction. Paul Sutter, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2025 This experiment contains a magnet that has an ion trap in it that is sensitive to weak electric fields that might be produced from axions (a dark matter candidate) interacting with the large magnetic field. Sunya Bhutta, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2025 When the electric field is positive (when the wave in the figure below rises above a central horizontal axis), positive charges are pushed upward and negative charges are pulled downward. Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for electric field

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of electric field was in 1879

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Cite this Entry

“Electric field.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electric%20field. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

electric field

noun
: a region associated with a distribution of electric charge or a varying magnetic field in which forces due to that charge or field act upon other electric charges

Medical Definition

electric field

noun
: a region associated with a distribution of electric charge or a varying magnetic field in which forces due to that charge or field act upon other electric charges

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