Magnetism is the invisible force that pulls certain metals toward magnets or makes magnets stick to your refrigerator. When you hold two magnets near each other, you can feel magnetism pushing them apart or snapping them together, depending on which ends you're using. Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole: opposite poles attract each other while matching poles repel.

Magnetism isn't magic, though it can feel that way. It happens because of how electrons move inside certain materials, especially iron, nickel, and cobalt. The Earth itself acts like a giant magnet, which is why compass needles point north, helping travelers find their way for centuries before GPS.

Scientists and engineers use magnetism to build everything from electric motors to MRI machines that let doctors see inside your body without surgery. When you turn on an electric fan, magnetism helps convert electricity into the spinning motion that cools you down.

The word also describes a different kind of attraction. When someone has a magnetic personality, they draw people toward them naturally, the way a magnet attracts iron filings. People want to be around them, listen to them, and follow their lead. This kind of magnetism isn't about physics, but it captures that same sense of an irresistible, almost mysterious pull.