electromagnetic wave

noun

: one of the waves that are propagated by simultaneous periodic variations of electric and magnetic field intensity and that include radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays

Examples of electromagnetic wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For whatever reason, the electromagnetic waves didn’t appear to bother Christian McCaffrey, who with 413 rushes/receptions at age 29 was saddled with the greatest workload for a running back in franchise history. —Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026

The electromagnetic waves aren’t powerful enough to hurt an NFL player—the real question is whether the story about them is powerful enough to become a durable piece of 49ers lore. —Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026

The company will now focus on developing the microwave technology, which uses electromagnetic waves to heat fusion plasma to temperatures many times hotter than the sun. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026

Can electromagnetic waves increase the risk of injury? —Alex Valdes, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for electromagnetic wave

• aftershave
• architrave
• autoclave
• microwave
• misbehave
• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave

Kids Definition

electromagnetic wave

noun

: a wave (as a radio wave, wave of visible light, or X-ray) that consists of an associated electric and magnetic effect and travels at the speed of light

Medical Definition

electromagnetic wave

noun

: one of the waves that are propagated by simultaneous periodic variations of electric and magnetic field intensity and that include radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays