What does diamagnet mean?
A diamagnet is any substance that exhibits diamagnetism, one of three broad classes of magnetic behaviour alongside paramagnetism and ferromagnetism. When placed in an external magnetic field, a diamagnet develops a very weak magnetic moment directed opposite to that field, so it is subtly repelled rather than attracted. This effect arises because the orbital motion of paired electrons is altered by the field, inducing a tiny opposing moment. All matter has some diamagnetic component, but in many substances stronger paramagnetic or ferromagnetic effects mask it. Familiar diamagnets include bismuth, copper, silver, graphite, water, and nearly all organic molecules. Although the effect is feeble, sufficiently powerful magnets can levitate small diamagnetic objects — even living creatures such as frogs have been floated this way. The term is chiefly encountered in physics and materials science, where distinguishing a diamagnet from a paramagnet or ferromagnet is fundamental to describing how materials interact with magnetic fields.
nounA substance that exhibits diamagnetism, meaning it is repelled by a magnetic field and develops a weak magnetic moment opposite to the applied field. Diamagnets include materials such as bismuth, copper, water, and most organic compounds.
- A substance that is repelled by a magnetic field and acquires an induced magnetic moment opposite in direction to the applied field.
"Bismuth is a strong enough diamagnet to levitate slightly above a powerful magnet."
"Water is a weak diamagnet, which is why a strong magnet can gently push a stream of it aside."
"In the experiment, the diamagnet was suspended above the superconducting coil without any physical support."
Regular plural formation, standard in scientific writing when discussing multiple materials.
"Bismuth, copper, and graphite are all well-studied diamagnets."
Drop a frog into a strong enough magnetic field and it behaves like a perfect diamagnet — levitating in midair, an experiment that won the 2000 Ig Nobel Prize in Physics.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of diamagnet
The word diamagnet combines the Greek prefix dia- (through or across) with magnet, itself ultimately from the Greek Magnēs lithos, the 'Magnesian stone' or lodestone named after the region of Magnesia in Thessaly. The adjective diamagnetic and the noun diamagnet emerged in the nineteenth century as physicists, notably Michael Faraday, classified matter by its response to magnetic fields. Cognates such as magnetism, magnesia, and magnesium all trace back to the same place-name root.
Related word forms
How diamagnet is actually used
Diamagnet is primarily a technical term used in physics, chemistry, and materials science rather than everyday conversation. It typically appears alongside related terms like paramagnet and ferromagnet, which classify substances by their response to magnetic fields.
Easily confused with diamagnet
A paramagnet is weakly attracted by a magnetic field and aligns its moments with it, whereas a diamagnet is weakly repelled and opposes the field.
A ferromagnet (like iron) shows strong, permanent attraction and retains magnetization, while a diamagnet's repulsion is extremely weak and vanishes when the external field is removed.