What does gravitational mean?
Gravitational is an adjective meaning “relating to gravity” or “caused by gravitational attraction.” Its most common uses are scientific: gravitational force, gravitational fields, gravitational pull, and gravitational radiation all refer to aspects of the attraction between objects with mass. The word can also describe an abstract attraction, as when a person or event has a gravitational pull, meaning that it strongly attracts attention, affection, or participation. In ordinary writing, the physical sense is precise but generally more technical than the simpler word gravity. The figurative sense adds a sense of inevitability or magnetism. Gravitational is used in both British and American English and is normally used before a noun, although it can also occur predicatively in formal contexts. Its scientific forms include the adverb gravitationally, used in phrases such as gravitationally bound or gravitationally lensed.
adjectiveRelating to gravity or the attraction between masses. In figurative use, it describes something that draws people, attention, or interest strongly toward it.
- Relating to gravity, gravitational attraction, or the force produced by masses attracting one another.
- Figuratively, having a strong power to attract attention, interest, people, or resources.
"The probe measured the gravitational pull of the distant planet as it passed behind the star."
"Astronomers used the star's gravitational effect to detect an otherwise invisible companion planet."
"The festival's gravitational pull brought artists and visitors from across the country."
Gravitational is the word behind the invisible tug that keeps planets in orbit and lets massive objects bend the surrounding universe.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gravitational come from?
Gravitational developed in the early 19th century from gravitation with the suffix -al. Gravitation comes from Latin gravitas, meaning “weight, heaviness, or seriousness,” which is related to gravis, meaning “heavy.” The same Latin root underlies gravitate, gravity, and the English loanword gravitas, giving the family its shared sense of weight or pulling force. The adjective's metaphorical sense developed from the physical idea of attraction toward a massive body.
Related word forms
How gravitational is actually used
The physical sense is standard in scientific and technical writing and is often attributive. The figurative sense is less formal and suggests a strong, almost irresistible attraction.
Easily confused with gravitational
Gravity is the force or attraction itself, whereas gravitational is an adjective describing anything relating to that force.
Gravitation is the noun for the process or phenomenon of bodies attracting one another, while gravitational is the adjective used to modify terms such as force, field, and pull.