magnetic field

American  

noun

1. a region of space near a magnet, electric current, or moving charged particle in which a magnetic force acts on any other magnet, electric current, or moving charged particle.

2. magnetic intensity.

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magnetic field British  

noun

1. a field of force surrounding a permanent magnet or a moving charged particle, in which another permanent magnet or moving charge experiences a force Compare electric field

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magnetic field Scientific  

1. A field of force associated with changing electric fields, as when electric charges are in motion. Magnetic fields exert deflective forces on moving electric charges. Most magnets have magnetic fields as a result of the spinning motion of the electrons orbiting the atoms of which they are composed; electromagnets create such fields from electric current moving through coils. Large objects, such as the earth, other planets, and stars, also produce magnetic fields.

2. See Note at magnetism

3. See magnetic field strength

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magnetic field Cultural  

1. A magnetic field is said to exist in a region if a force can be exerted on a magnet. If a compass needle is deflected when it is put at a particular location, we say a magnetic field exists at that point, and the strength of the field is measured by the strength of the force of the compass needle. The Earth, the sun, and the Milky Way galaxy all have magnetic fields. All known magnetic fields are caused by the movement of electrical charges. Electrons in orbit in atoms give rise to magnetic fields, so that every atom is, like the Earth, surrounded by a magnetic field. (See magnet and magnetism.)

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Etymology

Origin of magnetic field

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

magnetic field

Unlike axions, dark photons can produce electromagnetic waves even when no magnetic field is present, so the researchers searched the dataset for the different signature those particles would be expected to create.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026

One is cyclotron energy, which comes from the orbital motion of electrons through a magnetic field.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 5, 2026

When electrons move through a magnetic field, their possible energies no longer form a continuous range.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 5, 2026

In 1879, Edwin Hall discovered that when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to a material carrying an electric current, the moving charges are pushed to one side.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026

It has a weaker magnetic field and radiation belt than Jupiter and a more spectacular set of circumplanetary rings.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan