Meanings
- natural sciencesThe principle that the inertia of a body arises from its relation to the totality of all other bodies in the universe.
We now discuss a theory of gravitation and cosmology which is perhaps more strongly rooted in Mach's principle than any other theory discussed so far.
1988, J. V. Narlikar, A. K. Kembhavi, “Nonstandard Cosmologies”, in Vittorio Canuto, Bruce G. Elmegreen, editors, Handbook of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics, Volume II: Galaxies and Cosmology, Gordon and Breach, page 3902 more examples
Thus, in any case, quantum theory is based on an absolute space-time picture and, therefore, in these formulations Mach's principle is not fulfiled.^([sic]) The following important question arises: Can quantum phenomena be treated in accordance with Mach's principle?
1995, Wolfram Schommers, Symbols, Pictures and Quantum Reality, World Scientific, page 94This is most famously embodied in Mach's Principle (so named by Einstein), which in its simplest form states that 'mass there influences inertia here'. More formally, it says that inertia is causally determined by the large-scale distribution of matter in the universe.
2010, David S. Oderberg, “‘Whatever is Changing is Being Changed by Something Else’: A Reappraisal of Premise One of the First Way”, in John Cottingham, Peter Hacker, editors, Mind, Method, and Morality, Oxford University Press, page 152Synonyms: Mach's conjecture
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounThe principle that the inertia of a body arises from its relation to the totality of all other bodies in the universe.
Origin
Named after German physicist Ernst Mach, to whom the hypothesis is often attributed. Coined by Albert Einstein, who sought to incorporate the hypothesis into his theory of general relativity.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan principi de Mach
- principi de Machprinciple in physics
Finnish Machin periaate
- Machin periaateprinciple in physics
German Machsches Prinzip, Mach-Prinzip
- Machsches Prinzipprinciple in physics
- Mach-Prinzipprinciple in physics
Italian principio di Mach
- principio di Machprinciple in physics
Cite this entry
Mach's principle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Mach's%20principle
“Mach's principle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Mach's%20principle. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Mach's principle,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Mach's%20principle.
Source: Mach's principle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.