electric field

noun

: a region associated with a distribution of electric charge or a varying magnetic field in which forces due to that charge or field act upon other electric charges

Examples of electric field in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a portable device that creates electric fields which can cause cell death in tumors. —Alex Knapp, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

Parasites, such as ticks (opens a new tab) and roundworms (opens a new tab), hitch rides on electric fields generated by larger animal hosts. —quantamagazine.org, 30 Sep. 2024

Negative and positive charges build up in different areas of the quartz, creating an electric field and changing the electric state of the material. —Kate Graham-Shaw, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2024

Part of the mystery comes from the fact that the electric fields seen in thunderclouds are far smaller than what’s required to start a spark, reports Newsweek’s Tom Howarth. —Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

electric field

noun

: a region associated with a distribution of electric charge or a varying magnetic field in which forces due to that charge or field act upon other electric charges

Medical Definition

electric field

noun

: a region associated with a distribution of electric charge or a varying magnetic field in which forces due to that charge or field act upon other electric charges