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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

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

The results, published in Physical Review Letters, show that the strength of gravity decreases with distance almost exactly as predicted by Newton's equations and later incorporated into Einstein's theory of general relativity.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 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

It is also surprisingly simple, relying on only a handful of adjustable parameters and a small number of assumptions within the framework of general relativity.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026

At the singularity, general relativity and all other physical laws would break down: one couldn’t predict what would come out of the singularity.

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

Mitman is a co-author of the study examining this signal, titled "Black Hole Spectroscopy and Tests of General Relativity with GW250114," which was published in Physical Review Letters on Jan. 29.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 1, 2026

Their study was published in the journal General Relativity and Gravitation in October.

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

If such bodies pass between us and a star, they will not block the star’s light, being too small, but they will form a gravitational lens, as discussed in General Relativity and Quantum Gravity.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

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