electromotive force

noun

elec·​tro·​mo·​tive force i-ˌlek-trō-ˌmō-tiv- 

-trə-

: something that moves or tends to move electricity

especially : the apparent force that drives a current around an electrical circuit and that is equivalent to the potential difference between the terminals of the circuit

Examples of electromotive force in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By January, a conspiracy theory went viral, floating that an electrical substation producing low-frequency magnetic fields — even electromotive force — near the 49ers' Levi's Stadium was responsible for the team's chronic injuries. —Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for electromotive force

• bourse
• coarse
• course
• gorse
• hoarse
• horse
• norse
• source
• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce

Kids Definition

electromotive force

noun

elec·​tro·​mo·​tive force i-ˌlek-trə-ˌmōt-iv- 

: the work per unit charge required to carry a positive charge around a closed circuit in an electric field

—abbreviation emf

Medical Definition

electromotive force

noun

elec·​tro·​mo·​tive force i-ˌlek-trō-ˌmōt-iv-, -trə- 

: something that moves or tends to move electricity : the potential difference derived from an electrical source (as a cell or generator) per unit quantity of electricity passing through the source