relativistic

adjective

rel·​a·​tiv·​is·​tic ˌre-lə-ti-ˈvi-stik 

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by relativity or relativism

2

: moving at a velocity such that there is a significant change in properties (such as mass) in accordance with the theory of relativity

a relativistic electron

relativistically

ˌre-lə-ti-ˈvi-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of relativistic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Enter relativistic electron beams made up of electrons moving close to the speed of light. —Victoria Corless, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2025

Some of these black holes spit out some of the accreting gas into intergalactic space in the form of relativistic jets, further stripping the galaxy of the star-bearing medium. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2025

At the center is a visualization of a powerful jet of radiation and particles known as a relativistic jet. —Samuel Sanders, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024

This goes back to another quote of another founder of modern physics, Paul Dirac, who wrote down the relativistic wave equation, an equation that describes quantum mechanics connected with special relativity — it’s called the Dirac equation. —Quanta Magazine, 20 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for relativistic

• anachronistic
• animalistic
• antagonistic
• antiphlogistic
• behavioristic
• cannibalistic
• capitalistic
• characteristic
• collectivistic
• deterministic
• ethnolinguistic
• expressionistic

Kids Definition

relativistic

adjective

rel·​a·​tiv·​is·​tic ˌrel-ət-iv-ˈis-tik 

: of, relating to, or characterized by relativity

relativistically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb