electromagnetic
Americanadjective
adjective
-
of, containing, or operated by an electromagnet
an electromagnetic pump
-
of, relating to, or consisting of electromagnetism
electromagnetic moment
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of or relating to electromagnetic radiation
the electromagnetic spectrum
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of electromagnetic
Explanation
The adjective electromagnetic describes a powerful natural force that's caused by an electrical charge. Objects that have an electromagnetic charge act like ordinary magnets, attracting and repelling other objects — but the source of their magnetism is an electric current flowing inside them. Electromagnetic, a combination of electric and magnetic, dates from the 1820s, soon after the force itself was discovered by a Danish scientist who noticed a magnetic compass needle moving when it was close to a live electric wire.
Vocabulary lists containing electromagnetic
Waves and Wave Properties - Introductory
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Waves and Wave Properties - Middle School
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Electricity and Magnetism - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They can also support numerous different patterns of vibration, providing opportunities to store more information simultaneously than conventional electromagnetic memory.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2026
At least one solution is to protect the equipment itself, shielding sensitive electronics with materials that either absorb or reflect unwanted electromagnetic energy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026
According to the since-removed listing, the home was outfitted with “a state-of-the-art medical-grade air filtration system,” electromagnetic frequency shielding around the primary bedroom, a saltwater pool, and a “regenerative orchard.”
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 10, 2026
At this point, Kim started thinking the shark might have problems with her snout's electromagnetic sensors, which she uses for navigation.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
The deuton, however, had twice the heft of the proton but not the additional charge, so it should be better at penetrating a target’s electromagnetic field.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
