fifth force

noun

1. a theoretical force in nature in addition to the strong and weak forces, gravitation, and the electromagnetic force.

fifth force

noun

1. a hypothetical non-Newtonian repulsive component of the force of gravity, postulated as an addition to the four known fundamental forces (gravitational, electromagnetic, strong, and weak)

fifth force

/ fĭfth /

1. Any of various hypothetical, very weak forces thought to cause bodies to repel each other. Such forces are occasionally considered as a solution to unexpected deviations in the measured value of the gravitational constant or to explain the apparent acceleration of very distant galaxies away from earth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fifth force¹

First recorded in 1975–80