What does magnetism mean?
Word: Magnetism
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Magnetism means the force that makes a magnet pull iron or steel towards it. It can also mean a strong charm that draws people to someone.
Synonyms: charm
How do you spell magnetism?
Syllables: mag - net - ism
Tricky part: The ending sounds like izm or izum, but it is spelt with s and has no u.
Watch out for: magnetisum, magnetizm, magnettism
Memory tip: Picture three fridge letters, i, s and m, stuck to a horseshoe. That is the whole ending, with no u and no z.
Magnetism in a sentence
Example 1: Magnetism holds the fridge magnet to the door.
Example 2: The film star's magnetism drew a huge crowd.
Example 3: We tested magnetism with paper clips and a horseshoe magnet.
Fun Fact
The word magnet comes from Magnesia, a region of ancient Greece where lodestone, a rock that is naturally magnetic, was found.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) electrisity
b) fricsion
c) magnetism
d) gravaty
Show answer
c) magnetism. Gravity ends in ity, electricity has a c before ity and friction ends in tion.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
smigtenam
a) magnitude
b) magnetic
c) mechanism
d) magnetism
Show answer
d) magnetism. Only magnetism has two m's and an s; magnetic and mechanism need a c.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
m_gn_tism
a) a, e
b) o, e
c) e, e
d) a, a
Show answer
a) a, e. Spell the magnet first, mag and net, and both gaps are filled.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
magnetism
a) dislike
b) attraction
c) weakness
d) silence
Show answer
b) attraction. Magnetism pulls things or people closer, and that pull is attraction.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A person with great magnetism ____.
a) forgets names easily
b) frightens people away
c) draws people towards them
d) talks very quietly
Show answer
c) draws people towards them
2. Which of these works because of magnetism?
a) a compass needle pointing north
b) a kite rising in the wind
c) ice melting in the sun
d) a ball rolling down a slope
Show answer
a) a compass needle pointing north
