magnetic north

noun

: the northerly direction in the earth's magnetic field indicated by the north-seeking pole of a compass needle

Examples of magnetic north in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Like the Earth, the sun has magnetic north and south poles—but unlike Earth, those poles flip positions every 11 years. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2024 Give him a relentless work ethic, an addiction to risk and a moral compass that puts his own interests at its magnetic north pole. Will Oremus, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023 But magnetic north doesn’t line up perfectly with true north, the point where the Earth’s axis hits the surface (and above which the North Star sits). Julie Rehmeyer, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2018 The best place to see the northern lights is in what's called the auroral zone — the region of the northern hemisphere within an approximately 1,500-mile radius of the magnetic north pole. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for magnetic north 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'magnetic north.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of magnetic north was in 1812

Dictionary Entries Near magnetic north

Cite this Entry

“Magnetic north.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnetic%20north. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

magnetic north

noun
: the northerly direction in the earth's magnetic field indicated by the north-seeking pole of a compass needle
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!