In physics, the Newtonian limit refers to physical systems without significantly intense gravitation, in the sense that Newton's law of universal gravitation may used to obtain values that are correct to a high order.

In general, and in the presence of significant gravitation, the general theory of relativity must be used. In particular, systems which are purely electrodynamical in nature operate in the Newtonian limit.

In the Newtonian limit, spacetime is flat and the Minkowski metric may be used over finite distances.