Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to demagnetize

to demagnetize

2 7.4
To remove magnetism from something so it is not magnetic, for example erasing data on a disk
  • verb
  • /ˌdiːˈmæɡnəˌtaɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : desmagnetizar
  • Make sure to demagnetize the hard drive before disposal to protect personal data.

Examples

  • If the magnetic tape in your old cassette player is damaged, you can try to demagnetize it to recover the sound.

  • The cell phone will demagnetize the little strip on the key card.

    Road Hard (2015)

  • - The data strip's been demagnetized.

    Hitman: Agent 47 (2015)

  • Clearly, the membrane was in dire need of rebooting and demagnetizing.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • To safely reuse the key card, you need to demagnetize it first.

Synonyms

to erase
vsto demagnetize
144 1.6

Remove marks, writing, or digital files so they are no longer visible

targets magnetic traits or data on magnetic storage rather than general deletion
to degauss
vsto demagnetize
  • Specialized
3 9.9

Remove or reduce the magnetism of an object by using an opposite magnetic field

removes magnetic properties more generally rather than only using reverse fields

Antonyms

to magnetize
  • Specialized
8 5.9

To make something attract metal objects

How Magnetized

to magnetize
  • Specialized
8 5.9
to demagnetize
  • Specialized
2 7.4

Surface Forms

demagnetize infinitive
demagnetized past
demagnetized past participle
demagnetizing present participle
demagnetizes third person singular

Morphology

demagnetize = magnetize (transparent) = de + magnet + ize

The prefix 'de-' clearly reverses the action of 'magnetize', giving the meaning 'remove magnetism from'.

Etymology

Demagnetize combines de- ('remove') with magnet, like the small magnet you might put on a fridge, so imagine taking the magnet away. So to demagnetize something is to take away its 'magnetic power', which is why the word is used for removing magnetism or erasing magnetic data.