electromagnetism

noun

elec·​tro·​mag·​ne·​tism i-ˌlek-trō-ˈmag-nə-ˌti-zəm 

1

: magnetism developed by a current of electricity

2

a

: a fundamental physical force that is responsible for interactions between charged particles which occur because of their charge and for the emission and absorption of photons, that is about a hundredth the strength of the strong force, and that extends over infinite distances but is dominant over atomic and molecular distances

called also electromagnetic force

compare gravity sense 3a(2), strong force, weak force

b

: a branch of physical science that deals with the physical relations between electricity and magnetism

Examples of electromagnetism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After all, some unification has already occurred: physicist James Clerk Maxwell brought light, electricity and magnetism together more than 100 years ago by defining them as individual features of the larger force of electromagnetism. —Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2023

Some particles yank with electromagnetism, whose influence is easy to calculate. —Rahul Rao, Popular Science, 17 Aug. 2023

Understanding the physics occurring inside plasma requires a deep understanding of electromagnetism, one of the four fundamental forces of nature (the others are gravity and the weak and strong nuclear forces, for those keeping score). —Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 14 July 2023

And with his neural circuitry now reliant on drugs, getting sober seems like a near impossibility—unless Steele can rewire his brain with electromagnetism. —IEEE Spectrum, 11 July 2023

Over the 20th century, physicists gradually made sense of electromagnetism and other forces using this framework. —Thomas Lewton, Quanta Magazine, 10 July 2023

For example, photons are the force particle in electromagnetism. —Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2020

The moment represented the culmination of centuries of electrical breakthroughs as scientists began to understand electrostatic charge and electromagnetism, while engineers built capacitors, batteries, and eventually entire power stations. —Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2023

Gravity pins us to Earth and pulls us around the sun, while electromagnetism keeps the lights on. —Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2020

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Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

electromagnetism

noun

elec·​tro·​mag·​ne·​tism i-ˌlek-trō-ˈmag-nə-ˌtiz-əm 

1

: magnetism developed by a current of electricity

2

: a natural force arising from interactions between charged particles

Medical Definition

electromagnetism

noun

elec·​tro·​mag·​ne·​tism i-ˌlek-trō-ˈmag-nə-ˌtiz-əm 

1

: magnetism developed by a current of electricity

2

: physics dealing with the relations between electricity and magnetism