magnet

1 of 2

noun

mag·​net ˈmag-nət 

1

a

: lodestone

b

: a body having the property of attracting iron and producing a magnetic field external to itself

specifically : a mass of iron, steel, or alloy that has this property artificially imparted

2

: something that attracts

a box-office magnet

magnet-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or magneto-

1

: magnetic force

magnetometer

2

: magnetism : magnetic

magnetoelectric

magneton

3

: magnetoelectric

magnetoresistance

4

: magnetosphere

magnetopause

Synonyms

Noun

• attraction

Examples of magnet in a Sentence

Noun

the giant theme park is a magnet for tourists to the area

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This seems counter-intuitive to me, and will, Majin Bu says, have a knock-on effect in terms of the MagSafe imagery that appears, for example, on a transparent case with MagSafe magnets. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Bob and Nancy have taken the pictures off the walls in Sarah’s apartment, and the magnets off her refrigerator. —Wolf Blitzer, CNN Money, 29 June 2025

Fighter jets, missiles, electric vehicles, drones, wind turbines, and even data centers rely on high-performance magnets made from these critical minerals. —Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 29 June 2025

The researchers took it upon themselves to get these magnets to work at higher temperatures than that. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English magnete, from Anglo-French, from Latin magnet-, magnes, from Greek magnēs (lithos), literally, stone of Magnesia, ancient city in Asia Minor

Combining form

Latin magnet-, magnes

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing magnet

• field magnet
• magnet-fish
• magnet fishing
• magnet school
• permanent magnet
• refrigerator magnet

Rhymes for magnet

• magnate
• electromagnet
• ferromagnet

Kids Definition

magnet

noun

mag·​net ˈmag-nət 

1

: a piece of some material (as the mineral iron oxide) that is able to attract iron

especially : a mass of iron or steel so treated that it has this property

2

: something that attracts

the magnet of fame

Medical Definition

magnet

noun

mag·​net ˈmag-nət 

: a body having the property of attracting iron and producing a magnetic field external to itself

specifically : a mass of iron, steel, or alloy that has this property artificially imparted