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

Rocket-induced lightning from an enhanced atmospheric electric field is also a major risk.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

These screens generate a small electric field across their surface.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

According to Stöllner, the current scientific view is that, in both scenarios, the electric field inside clouds appears too weak to initiate lightning on its own.

From Science Daily • Nov. 24, 2025

For nearly two centuries, scientists attributed the Faraday Effect solely to the electric field of light interacting with electric charges in matter.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2025

Theory dictated that if the supposed disintegration were occurring within the nucleus’s electric field, the production of protons and neutrons would diminish as the targets got heavier.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik