relativistic

American  

[rel-uh-tuh-vis-tik] / ˌrɛl ə təˈvɪs tɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to relativity or relativism.

2. Physics.

   1. subject to the special or the general theory of relativity.

   2. (of a velocity) having a magnitude that is a significant fraction of the speed of light.

   3. (of a particle) having a relativistic velocity.

      radiation from relativistic electrons.

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relativistic British  

/ ˌrɛlətɪˈvɪstɪk /

adjective

1. physics having or involving a speed close to that of light so that the behaviour is described by the theory of relativity rather than by Newtonian mechanics

   a relativistic electron

   a relativistic velocity

2. physics of, concerned with, or involving relativity

3. of or relating to relativism

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Other Word Forms

• ultrarelativistic
  adjective
• unrelativistic
  adjective
• relativistically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of relativistic

First recorded in 1885–90; relativist + -ic

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

relativistic

The situation becomes much more complicated once the spacecraft reaches relativistic velocities.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026

As binary stars slowly spiral closer over time, relativistic effects become more important.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2026

Their picture shows the galaxy NGC 5128 and its relativistic jet - beams of radiation and particles travelling close to the speed of light.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2024

On the other end of the spectrum, hot dark matter moves at relativistic speeds, rendering it incapable of gathering most anything.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 20, 2023

And all three differ from self-conscious, relativistic, ironic, or postmodern styles, in which “the writer’s chief, if unstated, concern is to escape being convicted of philosophical naivete about his own enterprise.”

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

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