no-hair theorem

noun

A theorem postulating that all black hole solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell equations in general relativity can be completely characterized by only three externally observable classical parameters: mass, electric charge, and angular momentum.

Meanings

nounno-hair theorem (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA theorem postulating that all black hole solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell equations in general relativity can be completely characterized by only three externally observable classical parameters: mass, electric charge, and angular momentum.

Origin

Hair is a metaphor for the unnecessary information beyond the three proposed parameters.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

no-hair theorem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no-hair%20theorem

MLA

“no-hair theorem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no-hair%20theorem. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “no-hair theorem,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no-hair%20theorem.

Source: no-hair theorem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.