Foucault

American  

[foo-koh] / fuˈkoʊ /

noun

1. Jean Bernard Léon 1819–68, French physicist.

2. Michel 1926–84, French philosopher.

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Foucault British  

/ fuko /

noun

1. Jean Bernard Léon (ʒɑ̃ bɛrnar leɔ̃). 1819–68, French physicist. He determined the velocity of light and proved that light travels more slowly in water than in air (1850). He demonstrated by means of the pendulum named after him the rotation of the earth on its axis (1851) and invented the gyroscope (1852)

2. Michel . 1926–84, French philosopher and historian of ideas. His publications include Histoire de la folie (1961) and Les Mots et les choses (1966)

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Foucault Scientific  

/ fo̅o̅-kō′ /

1. French physicist who determined that light travels more slowly in water than in air, confirming predictions made by the wave theory of light. In 1850 Foucault also measured the absolute velocity of light. In 1851, by using a type of pendulum that is now named after him, Foucault demonstrated the rotation of the Earth, and in 1852 perfected a gyroscope for the same purpose.

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Example Sentences

On the first day of class, professor Reiko Hillyer writes a quote from French philosopher Michel Foucault on the board: Is it surprising that prisons resemble factories, schools, barracks, hospitals, which all resemble prisons?

From Slate • May 27, 2026

His college, however, was filled with such famous authors as Michel Foucault, John Barth, Donald Barthelme and J.M.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

To our shame, even nonbelievers such as Gore Vidal and Michel Foucault understood this.Foucault once said, “We are creating a hermaphrodism — a false species.”

From Washington Times • Jun. 11, 2023

In all likelihood, he encountered the work of Foucault during his studies there.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2023

I stepped out of the house, careful not to disturb my science project—the Foucault pendulum suspended from the porch roof.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman