Words / B2

mag-NET-ik/mæɡˈnetɪk/

Magnetic means able to attract iron, or having a strong pull on people: a magnetic stripe; a magnetic performance. Magnet is the object (already in the dictionary). A magnetic stripe is not a paper pass. Mix-up: magic is tricks (already in the dictionary); magnificent is splendid (already elsewhere). Do not write magnetic for “magical”.

Meaning

Able to attract iron, or having a strong attractive quality.

Examples

• “A magnetic stripe on the ID badge is not the same as a paper pass.”
• “A magnetic speaker drew the hall, which is the attractive-quality sense.”

Good to know

a magnetic field / stripe / personality. Object: magnet. Trap: magic / magnificent. Physics, ID, and news. Attracts iron or people — not a trick.

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