physics

Word family

• physical
  adjectiveA2
• physically
  adverbB1
• physicist
  nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Physics is more specific than science. Science can mean any field that studies the world in a careful way, but physics focuses on force, energy, movement, light, and matter. Mechanics is narrower than physics, because it mainly deals with motion, force, and machines, not the whole subject. Physical science is often a broader school or academic label that may include physics together with chemistry or earth science. Use physics when you mean the subject itself: 'Mina studies physics at college.' Use science for a wider idea: 'Mina enjoys science.'

Common collocations

Etymology

Physics comes in the end from a Greek word meaning 'nature'. Greek writers used a related form for the study of the natural world. The term then passed through Latin into English, where physics became the name of the science that explains how the physical world works.