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• general relativity
  general relativity

  noun

  relativity2
• General Relativity
  General Relativity

  A geometrical theory of gravity developed by Albert Einstein in which gravity's effects are a consequence of the curvature of four-dimensional space-time. According to this theory, the energy and momentum of all matter and radiation cause curvature in space-time, in a way similar to the creation of electric and magnetic fields by electric charges and currents. This curvature also opens the possibility that the universe is closed, having finite volume but without any boundary. Among the many experimentally confirmed consequences of General Relativity are the perihelion precession of the planet Mercury, the bending of light in a gravitational field, and the slowing of time in a gravitational field.

general relativity

American  

noun

1. Physics. relativity2

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General Relativity Scientific  

/ jĕn′ər-əl /

1. A geometrical theory of gravity developed by Albert Einstein in which gravity's effects are a consequence of the curvature of four-dimensional space-time. According to this theory, the energy and momentum of all matter and radiation cause curvature in space-time, in a way similar to the creation of electric and magnetic fields by electric charges and currents. This curvature also opens the possibility that the universe is closed, having finite volume but without any boundary. Among the many experimentally confirmed consequences of General Relativity are the perihelion precession of the planet Mercury, the bending of light in a gravitational field, and the slowing of time in a gravitational field.

2. See also closed universe equivalence principle Special Relativity

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

general relativity General Relativity

However, recent observations suggest it is weakening — potentially jeopardizing Einstein’s so far unblemished theory of general relativity and calling into question the leading description for how the universe will die.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

It could also have profound consequences for Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which has been proven correct time and time again in the century-plus since he published it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Einstein's theory of general relativity predicted that a spinning black hole would drag spacetime along with it, twisting it in a way that changes the orbits of the surrounding stars.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

Their positions appeared to have shifted, confirming general relativity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

In 1963, Roy Kerr, a New Zealander, found a set of solutions of the equations of general relativity that described rotating black holes.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

Unlike Einstein's General Relativity, which describes spacetime as something that can bend or curve, Einstein-Cartan theory also allows spacetime to twist.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026

A cosmological constant is a famous part of Einstein's General Relativity theory, and refers to an arbitrary constant that is present in all related field equations.

From Salon ● Nov. 13, 2024

One of the first experiments frozen positronium could be used for is to see if its antimatter part follows Einstein's Theory of General Relativity in the same way as the matter part.

From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2024

The work validated “Einstein’s General Relativity in situations where gravity is so strong that spacetime is significantly curved,’’ the judges said.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 11, 2023

Some important conceptual aspects of general relativity are discussed in General Relativity and Quantum Gravity of this course.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015