relativity

1 synonym for relativity, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Relativity is the physics theory, developed by Albert Einstein, describing how the laws of physics and the nature of space, time and gravity depend on the observer's motion.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

relativism

How to use relativity

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

theory of relativity general relativity special relativity Einstein's relativity

In physics, relativity has a precise technical meaning that differs from its everyday, general use.

Etymology

Relativity was formed in English from the adjective relative plus the suffix -ity, which turns adjectives into nouns naming a state or quality. The specific physics sense translates the German word Relativität, used by the German-American physicist Albert Einstein in his work.

Full origin of relativity →

Frequently asked questions

What does relativity mean in physics?

It refers to Einstein's theory describing how space, time and gravity depend on the relative motion of the observer.

Who came up with the theory of relativity?

Albert Einstein, the German-American theoretical physicist who lived from 1879 to 1955, developed the theory.

Is relativity the same as relativism?

They are related: relativity's general sense overlaps with relativism, the idea that there are no fixed standards, but in physics relativity has a specific technical meaning.

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of relativity