Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

physics

/ˈfɪz.ɪks/ noun

In Latin: physica Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about physics at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The science of matter and energy and their interactions.
his favorite subject was physics
The physical properties, phenomena, and laws of something.
he studied the physics of radiation

Origin

1580s; from physic (see also -ics), from Middle English phisik, from Old French fisike (“natural science, art of healing”), from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσική (phusikḗ), feminine singular of φυσικός (phusikós, “natural; physical”), from Ancient Greek φύσις (phúsis, “origin; nature, property”), from Ancient Greek φύω (phúō, “produce; bear; grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word