having the properties of a magnet; i.e. of attracting iron or steel
"the hard disk is covered with a thin coat of magnetic material"
capable of being magnetized
"The old iron nail was too rusty to be magnetic, so it wouldn't stick to the fridge even after we tried to magnetize it."
determined by earth's magnetic fields
"magnetic north"
"the needle of a magnetic compass points to the magnetic north pole"
possessing an extraordinary ability to attract
"a charismatic leader"
"a magnetic personality"
Of, relating to, operating by, or caused by magnetism.
"The physicist placed a compass near the wire to observe how the electric current created a magnetic field that deflected the needle."
In plain English: Magnetic means having the power to pull on certain metals like iron or nickel.
"The old fridge magnet stuck firmly to the metal door."
Usage: Use magnetic to describe objects that attract iron or steel through invisible forces, such as magnets sticking to a refrigerator. Avoid using it metaphorically for personality traits unless specifically referring to the ability to attract people's attention like a magnet.
The word magnetic comes from the noun magnet combined with the suffix -ic. It entered English to describe anything possessing or related to the properties of a magnet.