law of attraction
C2Informal, New Age, Self-Help, Metaphysical
Definition
Meaning
A New Thought philosophical concept that positive or negative thoughts bring corresponding positive or negative experiences into a person's life.
More generally, the idea that focusing on something (a goal, desire, or object) will make it more likely to appear in one's life. Also used metaphorically in physics to describe magnetic or gravitational attraction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term has a strong connotation of esoteric or pseudo-scientific belief. In mainstream contexts, it is not a verifiable scientific law but a psychological or spiritual principle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core concept is identical. Usage may be slightly more prevalent in American self-help and media culture.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties, though UK usage may carry a slightly greater tone of scepticism in mainstream contexts.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to the larger market for self-help literature and media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] believes in the law of attraction.[Subject] uses/applies the law of attraction to [goal].According to the law of attraction, [clause].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like attracts like.”
- “What you think about, you bring about.”
- “Be careful what you wish for.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in motivational business seminars to encourage goal-setting and positive envisioning of success.
Academic
Rare in formal academia, except as a topic of study in sociology, cultural studies, or critical analysis of New Age movements.
Everyday
Used in conversations about personal goals, luck, or why good/bad things happen to people.
Technical
In physics, refers literally to laws governing gravitational or electromagnetic attraction (e.g., Newton's law of universal gravitation).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She is trying to law-of-attraction her dream job.
- He law-of-attractioned a new car into his life.
American English
- She's manifesting a new job using the law of attraction.
- He's trying to attract a new partner.
adverb
British English
- He lived his life law-of-attraction-ly, always visualising success.
American English
- She thinks very much along law-of-attraction lines.
adjective
British English
- It was a very law-of-attraction approach to life.
- She had a law-of-attraction mindset.
American English
- She has a very law-of-attraction-based philosophy.
- He's into law-of-attraction teachings.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She read a book about the law of attraction.
- He thinks good thoughts because of the law of attraction.
- Many people use the law of attraction to achieve their personal goals.
- The film 'The Secret' explains the basic ideas behind the law of attraction.
- While sceptical of its scientific basis, she found the law of attraction a useful tool for maintaining a positive outlook.
- Proponents argue that the law of attraction operates irrespective of one's conscious belief in it.
- Critics dismiss the law of attraction as a form of magical thinking that overlooks structural socioeconomic barriers.
- The seminar deconstructed the law of attraction, framing it within a broader history of American self-help ideology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a magnet (ATTRACTion) for your thoughts – what you focus on sticks to you.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A MAGNET (attracting experiences). THOUGHTS ARE SEEDS (that grow into reality).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as "закон привлекательности" (law of physical attractiveness).
- A closer translation is "закон притяжения" (in the metaphysical sense) or "принцип притяжения мыслей" (principle of thought attraction).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *"law of the attraction". Correct: "law of attraction".
- Incorrect: using it as a countable noun (e.g., *"an attraction law").
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'law of attraction' used in a purely technical, non-metaphysical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not recognised as a scientific law in physics or psychology. It is a philosophical and metaphysical concept from the New Thought movement.
Positive thinking is a general attitude. The law of attraction is a specific belief system claiming that thoughts have a direct, causative power to manifest corresponding events in reality.
Yes, in physics, 'laws of attraction' refer to fundamental forces like gravity and electromagnetism, but this is not the common contemporary usage.
Yes, 'law of attraction' functions as a fixed noun phrase, often treated as a singular concept.