magnetic pole

American  

noun

1. the region of a magnet toward which the lines of magnetic induction converge south pole or from which the lines of induction diverge north pole.

2. either of the two points on the earth's surface where the dipping needle of a compass stands vertical, one in the Arctic, the other in the Antarctic.

---

magnetic pole British  

noun

1. either of two regions in a magnet where the magnetic induction is concentrated

2. either of two variable points on the earth's surface towards which a magnetic needle points, where the lines of force of the earth's magnetic field are vertical

---

magnetic pole Scientific  

1. Either of two regions of a magnet, designated north and south, where the magnetic field is strongest. Electromagnetic interactions cause the north poles of magnets to be attracted to the south poles of other magnets, and conversely. The north pole of a magnet is the pole out of which magnetic lines of force point, while the south pole is the pole into which they point. The Earth's geomagnetic “north” and “south” poles are, in fact, magnetically the opposite of what their names suggest; this is why the north end of a compass needle is attracted to the geomagnetic “north” pole.

2. See Note at magnetism See also magnetic

3. Either of two regions of the Earth's surface at which magnetic lines of force are perpendicular to the Earth's surface. The Earth's magnetic poles are close to, but not identical with, both its geographic poles (the North and South Poles) and its geomagnetic poles.

4. See Note at magnetic reversal

---

magnetic pole Cultural  

1. The spot on the Earth toward which a compass needle will point.

---

Discover More

The variation between magnetic north and “true” north is usually shown on navigation maps as the “angle of declination.”

The north magnetic pole is not located exactly at the geographic North Pole. Therefore, depending on where a compass is, its needle may not point exactly north.

Etymology

Origin of magnetic pole

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

In magnetic minerals, the alignment of electrons acts like a tiny compass pointing toward Earth's magnetic pole.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

This is distinct from the northernmost magnetic pole, which is the point where Earth's magnetic field points vertically downward, although the two locations are relatively close to each other.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2024

The northern lights appear in a region around the earth’s magnetic pole, called the “auroral oval” or “auroral zone”, explains Don Hampton, research associate professor at the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

From National Geographic • Dec. 1, 2023

For example, magnetic monopole quasiparticles have only one magnetic pole — unlike all ordinary magnets, which always have a north and a south.

From Nature • Jul. 2, 2020

It seemed Richard Parker was such a magnetic pole of life, so charismatic in his vitality, that other expressions of life found it intol­erable.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel