SPECIAL RELATIVITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does special relativity mean? 

• SPECIAL RELATIVITY (noun)
  The noun SPECIAL RELATIVITY has 1 sense:

1. a physical theory of relativity based on the assumption that the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant and the assumption that the laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems

  Familiarity information: SPECIAL RELATIVITY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPECIAL RELATIVITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A physical theory of relativity based on the assumption that the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant and the assumption that the laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

Einstein's special theory of relativity; special relativity; special relativity theory; special theory of relativity

Hypernyms ("special relativity" is a kind of...):

Einstein's theory of relativity; relativity; relativity theory; theory of relativity ((physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts)

 Context examples 

General relativity describes gravity as the curvature of space and special relativity describes the relationship between time and space.

(Hubble Uncovers Black Hole Disk that Shouldn't Exist, NASA)