reluctivity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareTechnical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “reluctivity” mean?
The property of a material to oppose the formation of a magnetic flux within it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The property of a material to oppose the formation of a magnetic flux within it; the inverse of magnetic permeability.
In physics and engineering, a specific measure of a material's resistance to magnetic lines of force. By extension, it can be used metaphorically to describe an inherent resistance or opposition to being influenced or changed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical or spelling differences. Usage is identical and confined to the same technical fields.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties. No corpus shows significant frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “reluctivity” in a Sentence
[Material] has a high/low reluctivity of [value].The reluctivity of [material] is [value].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reluctivity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The system does not 'reluct'. The verb form does not exist.
American English
- There is no verb 'to reluct'. The related verb is 'to reluctate', which is obsolete.
adverb
British English
- The magnetic field spread reluctively through the medium. (Hypothetical/obsolete)
American English
- The term 'reluctively' is not standard; use 'with high reluctivity'.
adjective
British English
- The core material was chosen for its low-reluctivity properties. (Compound adjective)
American English
- The high-reluctivity gap affects the circuit's efficiency. (Compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in advanced physics, electrical engineering, and materials science papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used in specifications for magnetic cores, transformer design, and electromagnetic simulations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reluctivity”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reluctivity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reluctivity”
- Misspelling as 'reluctibility' or 'reluctance'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'reluctance' in non-technical contexts.
- Confusing it with 'resistivity' (for electric current).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare technical term used almost exclusively in physics and electrical engineering.
Reluctance is the total magnetic resistance of a specific object or circuit (like resistance in electricity). Reluctivity (or specific reluctance) is an intrinsic property of the material itself (like resistivity).
No, this would be highly non-standard and confusing. The correct word for a person's unwillingness is 'reluctance'.
It is pronounced re-luc-TIV-ity, with the main stress on 'TIV'. In British English, the final sound is /ɪ/ (like 'bit'), and in American English, it's a schwa /ə/ (like 'a' in 'comma').
The property of a material to oppose the formation of a magnetic flux within it.
Reluctivity is usually technical / scientific in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'reluctance' (unwillingness) + '-ivity' (property of). A material with high 'reluctivity' is very 'reluctant' to let magnetic fields pass through.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESISTANCE IS RELUCTANCE (The physical opposition to magnetic flux is conceptualized as an unwillingness).
Practice
Quiz
Reluctivity is the reciprocal of which other magnetic property?