Jump To:

• 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

---

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

---

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

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

According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, tracing the Universe backward leads to the Big Bang singularity, where density becomes infinite, and the known laws of physics no longer work.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

Their positions appeared to have shifted, confirming general relativity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

However, we still use Newton’s theory for all practical purposes because the difference between its predictions and those of general relativity is very small in the situations that we normally deal with.

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

A new study led by Richard Pinčák and published in General Relativity and Gravitation proposes a different outcome.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---