The invisible force that makes magnets attract or repel metal objects, or figuratively, the powerful appeal that draws people toward someone or something.
From Greek 'magnetis' (lodestone), named after Magnesia, a region in ancient Greece where magnetic iron ore was found. The suffix '-ism' was added in the 17th century to describe the phenomenon as a force or property.
Magnetism isn't just about magnets sticking to your fridge—ancient Greeks discovered lodestones that naturally attracted iron over 2,000 years ago, and they had no idea why! The real 'pull' of this word is that it's also used to describe charismatic people who seem to draw others toward them effortlessly.
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