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Synonyms

physics

American  
[fiz-iks] / ˈfɪz ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

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

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

"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
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.

physics Cultural  

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

Etymology

Origin of physics

First recorded in 1580–90; physic, -ics

Compare meaning

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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.

Unlike conventional batteries that depend on chemical reactions, quantum batteries rely on the unusual principles of quantum physics.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026

Several visual-effects artists who have worked for top studios say Mercor contacted them with offers to purchase specific high-end production work, such as “4D physics scenes with camera data, depth and motion/point tracking.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

In his teens, he went on to join the air cadets youth programme, and to study space science and physics at university.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

"There appears to be little additional physics required to explain the stripes qualitatively," Medvedev said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

Organs and organisms might behave according to the laws of physics and chemistry—but the genesis of life itself could never be understood through these laws.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.