Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

general theory of relativity

American  

noun

Physics.
  1. relativity2


general theory of relativity British  

noun

  1. the theory of gravitation, developed by Einstein in 1916, extending the special theory of relativity to include acceleration and leading to the conclusion that gravitational forces are equivalent to forces caused by acceleration

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of general theory of relativity

First recorded in 1930–35

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.

See Examples For:

Then in 1915, Einstein used these ideas to build his general theory of relativity, describing gravity as curvature in the fabric of space-time.

From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2026

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and the American University of Beirut now suggest an answer, and it points to Einstein's general theory of relativity.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2026

Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916 as part of his general theory of relativity.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2025

The general theory of relativity, published by Albert Einstein over a century ago, predicted that black holes could have any mass.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 7, 2024

The general theory of relativity, on its own, cannot explain these features or answer these questions because of its prediction that the universe started off with infinite density at the big bang singularity.

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

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com