Standard Lemma guide

demagnetize

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make something nonmagnetic by removing its magnetic properties.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To erase the contents of a magnetic storage device.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

make nonmagnetic; take away the magnetic properties (of)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • demagnetize the iron shavings
  • they degaussed the ship

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: demagnetise, degauss

Antonyms: magnetize

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

4

verb

Meaning 4

erase (a magnetic storage device)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: demagnetise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: erase, delete

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h1 Proto-Indo-European *déh1 Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- Old French magnetebor. Pre-Greekbor.? Ancient Greek Μάγνης (Mágnēs) Ancient Greek μᾰ́γνης (mắgnēs)bor. Latin magnēsbor. Middle English magnete English magnet Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English magnetize English demagnetize From de- + magnetize.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: размагні́чваць (razmahníčvacʹ) — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Belarusian: размагні́ціць (razmahnícicʹ) — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Catalan: desmagnetitzar — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Chinese Mandarin: 消磁 (xiāocí) — to make something nonmagnetic
  • French: démagnétiser — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Galician: desmagnetizar — to make something nonmagnetic
  • German: entmagnetisieren — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Italian: demagnetizzare — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Italian: smagnetizzare — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Kazakh: магнитсіздендіру (magnitsızdendıru) — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Latin: demagnētizō — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Polish: rozmagnesowywać — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Polish: rozmagnesować — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Polish: demagnetyzować — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Polish: zdemagnetyzować — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Romanian: demagnetiza — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Russian: размагни́чивать (razmagníčivatʹ) — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Russian: размагни́тить (razmagnítitʹ) — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Swedish: avmagnetisera — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Ukrainian: розмагні́чувати (rozmahníčuvaty) — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Ukrainian: розмагні́тити (rozmahnítyty) — to make something nonmagnetic
  • Chinese Mandarin: 消磁 (xiāocí) — to erase the contents of a magnetic storage device
  • Polish: rozmagnesowywać — to erase the contents of a magnetic storage device
  • Polish: rozmagnesować — to erase the contents of a magnetic storage device
  • Polish: demagnetyzować — to erase the contents of a magnetic storage device
  • Polish: zdemagnetyzować — to erase the contents of a magnetic storage device