electric field

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. a vector quantity from which is determined the magnitude and direction of the force electric force on a charged particle due to the presence of other charged particles, accelerated charged particles, or time-varying currents. E

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electric field British  

noun

1. a field of force surrounding a charged particle within which another charged particle experiences a force Compare magnetic field

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electric field Scientific  

1. The distribution in space of the strength and direction of forces that would be exerted on an electric charge at any point in that space. Electric fields themselves result directly from other electric charges or from changing magnetic fields. The strength of an electric field at a given point in space near an electrically charged object is proportional to the amount of charge on the object, and inversely proportional to the distance between the point and the object.

2. See also electromagnetism electrostatic force

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Etymology

Origin of electric field

First recorded in 1895–1900

Compare meaning

How does electric-field compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• electric field vs. electric potential

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

electric field

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a semiconductor device that uses laser light to direct the movement of electrons without requiring an applied electric field or electrical power source.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

That allowed the heat carrying vibrations to travel farther through the material, much like easing congestion on a busy highway, leading to much more efficient heat conduction in the direction of the electric field.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

The crystals used in the experiments were carefully grown and then exposed to the electric field, or "poled," by Raffi Sahul at Amphenol Corporation.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

The measurements showed that applying an electric field not only increased the speed of the phonons but also significantly extended how long they survived before scattering.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

According to Edlefsen’s rudimentary ion detectors, something was going on inside the flask, but whether it was protons accelerating in resonance with an oscillating electric field was by no means clear.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik