field theory
Americannoun
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An explicit mathematical description of physical phenomena that models physical forces using fields.
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The study of fields and field extensions in algebra.
Etymology
Origin of field theory
First recorded in 1900–05
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.
In 1999, Neves Valente took an optional class in quantum field theory and earned a near-perfect grade of 19 out of 20, professor Jorge Romão said after reviewing old paperwork.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025
At this point, water displays scale invariance symmetry, and its behavior can be captured using conformal field theory.
From Science Daily • Dec. 16, 2025
Conformal field theory acts as a bridge between different fields of physics: the underlying math is used in string theory, condensed matter physics and quantum statistical mechanics.
From Scientific American • Sep. 25, 2023
In the Caltech interview, he recalled a paper in which he suggested that gravity could solve some troubling infinities that were showing up in the quantum field theory of electrodynamics.
From New York Times • May 8, 2023
Both men were flying blind, neither having had the slightest training in electrical field theory.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions 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.
