1. the magnetic field strength needed to reduce the magnetization of a ferromagnetic material to zero
Usage: physics; materials science
2. the quality or state of being coercive; the use of force or threats to compel action

Examples

• The coercivity of the magnetic material determines its suitability for permanent magnets.
• Hard magnetic materials have high coercivity values.
• Engineers measured the coercivity to evaluate the magnet’s performance.
• The coercivity of the government’s policies sparked public debate.
• Legal scholars discussed the coercivity inherent in certain contracts.
• The study examined the coercivity of different interrogation techniques.