ferrimagnetic

[ fer-ahy-mag-net-ik, fer-ee- ]

adjective

, Physics.

1. noting or pertaining to a substance, as a ferrite, in which the magnetic moments of some neighboring atoms point in opposite directions, with a net magnetization still resulting because of differences in magnitudes of the opposite moments. Compare antiferromagnetic, diamagnetic, ferromagnetic, paramagnetic.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferrimagnetic¹

1950–55; ferri- + magnetic; compare French ferrimagnétisme