Definition
A material that is weakly attracted to a magnetic field and becomes slightly magnetized in the same direction as the field while the field is present, but does not retain magnetism once the field is removed. Examples include aluminum, platinum, and oxygen.
Plain English
A material that is pulled gently toward a magnet when one is nearby, but loses that pull as soon as the magnet is taken away.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of magnetism, aircraft instruments, and materials near a magnetic compass.
Derivation
From the Greek 'para' meaning 'beside' or 'alongside,' combined with 'magnetic.' The idea is that the material goes 'along with' a magnetic field while it is present, rather than strongly holding onto magnetism the way iron does.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing which materials are paramagnetic versus ferromagnetic helps explain why certain items can be placed near a magnetic compass without throwing off its reading, while others cause significant deviation errors.
Analogy
Think of a paramagnetic material like someone briefly turning toward a sound, then going back to normal when the sound stops. It responds a little while the magnetic field is there, but it does not keep that behavior afterward.
Intuition Check
Paramagnetic does not mean the material is a strong magnet. It means the material is only weakly attracted by a magnetic field and usually does not stay magnetized.
Example Sentence 1
Aluminum is a paramagnetic material, which is one reason it is widely used in aircraft structures without disturbing nearby magnetic instruments.
Example Sentence 2
The maintenance manual warned against using paramagnetic fasteners near the magnetic sensor units.