Linear motor and method to determine absolute position of a rotor movable with respect to a stationary part in a direction of movement, without movement of rotor, without additional permanent magnets, without a close arrangement of position sensors, and also during large movements of rotor, at least one edge area of an arrangement of drive magnets is determined, and rough position of rotor is derived, and using known geometry of rotor, specific drive magnet of the arrangement of drive magnets is determined whose magnetic field is detected by at least one of the position sensors in the area of the arrangement of drive magnets. At least one position sensor determines a relative position of measured drive magnet with respect to the at least one position sensor, and absolute position of rotor is determined from known mounting position of this at least one position sensor and from determined relative position.