gauge theory

American  

[geyj theer-ee] / ˈgeɪdʒ ˌθɪər i /

noun

Physics.

1. a type of field theory that describes elementary particles and their interactions.

   gauge theories involving nonlinear differential equations.

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gauge theory British  

noun

1. physics a type of theory of elementary particles designed to explain the strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions in terms of exchange of virtual particles

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Etymology

Origin of gauge theory

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

The approach has already been combined with mid-circuit measurements of the ion's spin to generate flexible combinations of squeezed states and to simulate a lattice gauge theory.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2026

A gauge theory basically says that how the particles behave should not change depending on how you look at it.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2019

When I asked Holt "What’s your utopia?," he replied "arguing eternally about gauge theory" with Maudlin and a few other pals.

From Scientific American • Nov. 4, 2018

In the 1960s, a gauge theory, called electroweak theory, was developed by Steven Weinberg, Sheldon Glashow, and Abdus Salam and proposed that the electromagnetic and weak forces are identical at sufficiently high energies.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The fact that gauge theory also underlies economics was a groundbreaking discovery made by the economist Pia Malaney and mathematical physicist Eric Weinstein around the time of the Boskin Commission.

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2013