Science Words That Start With F and Their Meanings

Learning science words that start with F can help students, teachers, and science lovers build a strong vocabulary. From biology and chemistry to astronomy and physics, there are hundreds of scientific terms starting with F that you’ll find in textbooks, research papers, and everyday science discussions. This guide covers 130 science terms starting with F, complete with definitions and examples, so you can understand their meaning and use them confidently. Whether you’re a student preparing for exams, a teacher creating lesson plans, or just curious about science, this article will give you clear explanations in simple English.

Understanding science vocabulary with F is more than just memorizing words. It helps you think in scientific ways, connect ideas between subjects, and explain concepts better. You’ll also find a detailed table so you can quickly check the definition of each term. By the end of this guide, you’ll know important biology words that start with F, chemistry words starting with F, physics words that start with F, and even lab equipment starting with F.

Biology Words That Start With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Fossil	Remains or traces of ancient life preserved in rock	Fossils show how animals lived millions of years ago.
Fungus	Organism that feeds on organic matter	Mushrooms are a type of fungus.
Fertilization	Union of male and female gametes	Fertilization starts the development of a new organism.
Frond	Leaf or leaf-like part of a fern or palm	The fern’s frond spread out in the shade.
Flagellum	Tail-like structure for cell movement	Some bacteria swim using a flagellum.
Filament	Thin thread-like structure in plants or animals	A stamen’s filament holds the anther in flowers.
Food Chain	Series of organisms feeding on each other	The food chain begins with plants.
Fauna	Animal life of a region	The fauna of Africa includes lions and elephants.
Flora	Plant life of a region	The desert flora includes cacti and shrubs.
Follicle	Small gland or cavity in the body	Hair grows from follicles in the skin.
Frugivore	Animal that eats mainly fruit	Many birds are frugivores.
Fermentation	Process of breaking down substances by bacteria or yeast	Fermentation turns milk into yogurt.
Fratricide	Killing of a sibling in certain animal species	Some birds show fratricide in the nest.
Flexor	Muscle that bends a limb	The biceps is a flexor muscle.
Frontal Lobe	Brain part responsible for decision making	The frontal lobe controls problem-solving skills.
Fertile	Capable of producing offspring	A fertile plant produces many seeds.
Folivorous	Feeding mainly on leaves	Koalas are folivorous animals.
Flight Feather	Large feather for flying in birds	The eagle’s flight feathers were damaged.
Fatty Acid	Component of fats in living organisms	Omega-3 is a healthy fatty acid.
Filoplume	Hair-like feather on birds	Filoplumes sense movement in feathers.

Chemistry Words Starting With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Fluorescence	Emission of light by a substance after absorbing energy	Fluorescence is used in medical imaging.
Fusion	Joining of two atoms to form one	Fusion powers the sun.
Fission	Splitting of an atomic nucleus	Nuclear fission produces energy in reactors.
Ferrite	Magnetic iron compound	Ferrite is used in transformers.
Filtration	Separation of solids from liquids	Filtration cleans water.
Formaldehyde	Strong-smelling chemical compound	Formaldehyde is used to preserve specimens.
Fractional Distillation	Separation of mixtures by boiling points	Crude oil is refined by fractional distillation.
Fluoride	Compound containing fluorine	Fluoride helps protect teeth from decay.
Freezing Point	Temperature at which a liquid becomes solid	Water’s freezing point is 0°C.
Fullerene	Molecule made entirely of carbon	Fullerenes have unique electrical properties.
Fuel Cell	Device that converts chemical energy into electricity	Fuel cells power some electric cars.
Flux	Substance that aids melting in metallurgy	Flux is used in soldering.
Formula	Representation of a chemical compound	H₂O is the formula for water.
Flocculation	Clumping of particles in a liquid	Flocculation helps in water treatment.
Fluorocarbon	Compound of carbon and fluorine	Fluorocarbons are used in refrigeration.
Fraction	Portion of a mixture separated by distillation	Kerosene is a fraction of crude oil.
Flame Test	Test to identify metal ions by flame color	Sodium gives a yellow flame.
Fluidity	Measure of a fluid’s ability to flow	Honey has low fluidity.
Ferrous	Containing iron	Ferrous metals rust easily.
Fluorometry	Technique to measure fluorescence	Fluorometry is used in DNA testing.

Physics Words That Start With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Force	Push or pull on an object	Gravity is a force pulling us to Earth.
Friction	Resistance between two surfaces	Friction slows a moving car.
Frequency	Number of cycles per second	Radio waves have different frequencies.
Fluid Dynamics	Study of moving fluids	Fluid dynamics explains airplane lift.
Flux Density	Measure of magnetic field strength	Flux density is measured in teslas.
Free Fall	Motion under gravity alone	An apple in free fall accelerates downward.
Farad	Unit of capacitance	Capacitors store charge in farads.
Focal Length	Distance from lens to focus point	Camera lenses have different focal lengths.
Field	Region of space influenced by a force	A magnetic field affects compasses.
Fermion	Particle that follows Fermi-Dirac statistics	Electrons are fermions.
Frame of Reference	Perspective for measuring motion	A train is still in its own frame of reference.
Fluid Pressure	Pressure in a fluid at rest or moving	Fluid pressure increases with depth.
Flywheel	Rotating device that stores energy	Flywheels keep engines running smoothly.
Fatigue	Weakening of material over time	Metal fatigue can cause structural failure.
Feedback	System’s response to its own output	Amplifiers use feedback for control.
Fresnel Lens	Special lens for focusing light	Lighthouses use Fresnel lenses.
Field Lines	Lines showing direction of a field	Magnetic field lines point from north to south.
Force Field	Area where a force acts	Gravity creates a force field around Earth.
Free Electron	Electron not bound to an atom	Free electrons conduct electricity.
Fourier Transform	Mathematical tool for wave analysis	Fourier transforms help in sound processing.

Earth Science Words That Start With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Fault Line	Crack in Earth’s crust	Earthquakes occur near fault lines.
Fluviology	Study of rivers	Fluviology explains river patterns.
Fumarole	Opening that emits volcanic gases	Fumaroles release steam near volcanoes.
Floodplain	Flat area next to a river	Floodplains are prone to flooding.
Fossil Fuel	Energy source from ancient organisms	Coal is a fossil fuel.
Frost	Ice crystals on surfaces	Frost forms on grass in winter.
Fjord	Long, narrow sea inlet	Norway’s fjords are famous tourist spots.
Formation	Rock layers with similar features	The sandstone formation is millions of years old.
Fault Scarp	Step-like feature from fault movement	The earthquake created a fault scarp.
Freeze-Thaw	Weathering caused by water freezing	Freeze-thaw cracks rocks over time.
Foliated Rock	Rock with layered appearance	Slate is a foliated rock.
Fissure	Long crack in Earth’s surface	Lava emerged from a fissure.
Foreland	Land projecting into a sea	The foreland was shaped by erosion.
Foreshock	Smaller quake before a main earthquake	Foreshocks warned of a larger quake.
Fossilization	Process of turning remains into fossils	Fossilization takes millions of years.
Fluorite	Mineral used in industry	Fluorite is used in making glass.
Fluvial	Related to rivers	Fluvial deposits are left by rivers.
Fault Zone	Area with multiple faults	The San Andreas is a major fault zone.
Flood	Overflow of water onto land	The flood damaged crops.
Forearc Basin	Depression between trench and volcanic arc	Sediments collect in a forearc basin.

Astronomy Words Starting With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Flare	Sudden burst of solar energy	A solar flare disrupted communication.
Flyby	Passing close to a celestial body	The probe did a flyby of Mars.
Field Star	Star used for reference in astronomy	Field stars help guide telescopes.
First Quarter	Moon phase where half is lit	The moon is in its first quarter tonight.
Full Moon	Phase where the moon is fully lit	The full moon glowed brightly.
Fast Radio Burst	Mysterious short radio signal	Astronomers study fast radio bursts.
Focal Plane	Surface where telescope forms image	Cameras have sensors at the focal plane.
Filament (Solar)	Structure of cool gas in sun’s atmosphere	Solar filaments appear as dark lines.
Force of Gravity	Attraction between masses	The moon’s gravity causes tides.
Frame Dragging	Spacetime warping near rotating bodies	Frame dragging was predicted by Einstein.

Lab Equipment and Techniques Starting With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Filter Paper	Paper used for filtration	Filter paper removes solids from liquids.
Funnel	Tool for pouring liquids into containers	The funnel prevented spilling.
Flowmeter	Device that measures fluid flow	The flowmeter checked water speed.
Flame Photometer	Instrument for detecting metals	A flame photometer measures sodium levels.
Fraction Collector	Collects separated liquid fractions	A fraction collector was used in chromatography.
Freeze Dryer	Removes water by freezing and evaporation	The freeze dryer preserved samples.
Fume Hood	Cabinet that removes hazardous fumes	The fume hood kept the lab safe.
Filtration Apparatus	Equipment for filtering solutions	The filtration apparatus cleaned the sample.
Forceps	Tweezer-like tool for handling small items	Forceps held the specimen.
Flow Cytometer	Analyzes cells in a fluid	Flow cytometry is used in cancer research.

Environmental Science Words Starting With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Forest Ecology	Study of forest ecosystems	Forest ecology explains how trees affect climate.
Fertilizer	Substance added to soil for plant growth	Farmers use fertilizer to boost crop yield.
Fossil Record	History of life shown in fossils	The fossil record shows extinct species.
Flood Control	Measures to prevent flood damage	Dams are used for flood control.
Food Web	Network of connected food chains	The food web shows how animals depend on each other.
Freshwater	Water without salt	Lakes and rivers hold freshwater.
Fire Ecology	Study of fire’s role in ecosystems	Fire ecology helps manage forests.
Field Survey	Scientific outdoor data collection	The team did a field survey of bird species.
Flocculant	Chemical for water treatment	A flocculant helps clear muddy water.
Footprint (Carbon)	Total greenhouse gases made by activity	Flying increases your carbon footprint.

Medical Science Words Starting With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Fracture	Break in a bone	The X-ray showed a leg fracture.
Fever	Elevated body temperature	The patient had a fever from infection.
Fibrosis	Thickening of tissue	Lung fibrosis makes breathing hard.
Folate	Vitamin B9 needed for cell growth	Folate is important in pregnancy.
Fasting	Not eating for a period	Fasting required before some blood tests.
Fatigue	Extreme tiredness	Chronic fatigue can be a medical symptom.
First Aid	Immediate help for injury or illness	First aid stopped the bleeding.
Flu Virus	Virus that causes influenza	The flu virus spreads in winter.
Fetus	Developing human in the womb	The fetus grows rapidly in the third month.
Fluid Therapy	Giving fluids to patients	Fluid therapy treats dehydration.

Engineering Words Starting With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Flange	Rim for strength or connection	The pipe joined with a flange.
Fastener	Device for joining materials	Screws are common fasteners.
Fatigue Limit	Maximum stress before failure	Engineers test metal fatigue limits.
Flow Rate	Volume of fluid per time	The pump controls the flow rate.
Frame Structure	Load-bearing framework	Bridges use steel frame structures.
Flywheel Energy Storage	Energy stored in rotating flywheels	Flywheels help stabilize power grids.
Field Testing	Testing in real conditions	The prototype passed field testing.
Furnace	Equipment for high heat	Furnaces melt metals.
Fillet Weld	Rounded weld joint	Fillet welds used in shipbuilding.
Feedback Loop	System that adjusts itself	Feedback loops control heating systems.

Computer Science Words Starting With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Firewall	Security system for networks	A firewall blocks unauthorized access.
Function	Named set of code instructions	The function calculates the total.
Framework	Structured base for programming	Django is a web framework.
File System	Method of storing files	NTFS is a file system.
Floating Point	Decimal number in computing	Calculations use floating point numbers.
Fetch Cycle	Step of CPU instruction process	The fetch cycle gets the next instruction.
Fault Tolerance	Ability to keep working after error	Servers need fault tolerance.
Fiber Optics	High-speed data transmission	Fiber optics give fast internet.
Field (Database)	Single piece of data in a record	The “Name” field stores a person’s name.
Firmware	Software in device hardware	Routers need firmware updates.

Mathematics Words Starting With F

Word	Meaning	Example
Factor	Number that divides another	3 is a factor of 12.
Fraction	Part of a whole	½ is a fraction.
Function Graph	Picture of a function’s output	The function graph showed a curve.
Fibonacci Sequence	Number series where each is sum of previous two	1, 1, 2, 3, 5… is Fibonacci sequence.
Frequency Distribution	How often values appear	The frequency distribution showed test scores.
Formula	Mathematical equation	E=mc² is a famous formula.
Factorization	Breaking number into factors	12 factorizes into 2 × 2 × 3.
Frustum	Shape between two parallel planes	A cone’s frustum is its cut section.
Finite Set	Set with limited elements	{1, 2, 3} is finite.
Fourier Series	Sum of waves to make a signal	Fourier series helps in sound analysis.

Conclusion

Science is full of fascinating words, and science words beginning with F open the door to many important concepts. Whether it’s the biology of fungi, the physics of friction, or the astronomy of flares, knowing these scientific terms starting with F makes you more informed and confident. Keep revisiting this science glossary F words to refresh your memory, and use it as a learning tool in both school and personal study. The more you practice, the more these words will become part of your natural science vocabulary.