Showing results for "physics"

• plural of physic.
• present tense form of physic (3rd person singular).

physics

American  

[fiz-iks] / ˈfɪz ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

• physics
  plural

1. the science that deals with matter, energy, motion, and force.

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physics British  

/ ˈfɪzɪks /

noun

1. the branch of science concerned with the properties of matter and energy and the relationships between them. It is based on mathematics and traditionally includes mechanics, optics, electricity and magnetism, acoustics, and heat. Modern physics, based on quantum theory, includes atomic, nuclear, particle, and solid-state studies. It can also embrace applied fields such as geophysics and meteorology

2. physical properties of behaviour

   the physics of the electron

3. archaic natural science or natural philosophy

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physics Scientific  

/ fĭz′ĭks /

1. The scientific study of matter, energy, space, and time, and of the relations between them.

2. The behavior of a given physical system, especially as understood by a physical theory.

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physics Cultural  

1. The scientific study of matter and motion. (See mechanics, optics, quantum mechanics, relativity, and thermodynamics.)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• physics
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of physics

First recorded in 1580–90; see origin at physic, -ics

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Compare meaning

How does physics compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• physical science vs. physics

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Explanation

Physics is a kind of science, specifically the science of matter and energy and how they interact. Physics is the study of physical matter, energy, and how they work together. Kinetic energy and potential energy are part of physics. Although it may sound really advanced — and it is — physics is involved in everything we do. Champion pool players have a good understanding of how physics influences the movement of the balls. People who design roller coasters better know their physics. And if you've ever rigged up a pulley or a lever, then you've done basic physics.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

physics

Even so, students around the country are using the tools to help write essays, complete math and physics problem sets, and otherwise present the illusion of knowledge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

It came from Dangerfield’s love of quantum physics.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

He also evangelizes about the benefits it will bring to the study of biology, mathematics and physics.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

Thanks to favorable physics, AM signals also travel much farther—I once picked up a station in Chicago at nighttime while driving through North Carolina.

From Slate ● Oct. 20, 2026

Modern physics, chemistry and biology do not emerge out of the corpuscular philosophy, but out of its collapse.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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