equilibrium

[ ee-kwuh-lib-ree-uhm, ek-wuh- ]

noun

, plural e·qui·lib·ri·ums, e·qui·lib·ri·a [ee-kw, uh, -, lib, -ree-, uh, ek-w, uh, -].

1. a state of rest or balance due to the equal action of opposing forces.

   Synonyms: steadiness, stability, equipoise

2. equal balance between any powers, influences, etc.; equality of effect.
3. mental or emotional balance; equanimity:

   The pressures of the situation caused her to lose her equilibrium.

4. Chemistry. the condition existing when a chemical reaction and its reverse reaction proceed at equal rates.

equilibrium

/ ˌiːkwɪˈlɪbrɪəm /

noun

1. a stable condition in which forces cancel one another
2. a state or feeling of mental balance; composure
3. See thermodynamic equilibrium
   any unchanging condition or state of a body, system, etc, resulting from the balance or cancelling out of the influences or processes to which it is subjected See thermodynamic equilibrium
4. physics a state of rest or uniform motion in which there is no resultant force on a body
5. chem the condition existing when a chemical reaction and its reverse reaction take place at equal rates
6. physics the condition of a system that has its total energy distributed among its component parts in the statistically most probable manner
7. physiol a state of bodily balance, maintained primarily by special receptors in the inner ear
8. the economic condition in which there is neither excess demand nor excess supply in a market

equilibrium

/ ē′kwə-lĭb′rē-əm /

, Plural equilibriums

1. Physics.
   The state of a body or physical system that is at rest or in constant and unchanging motion. A system that is in equilibrium shows no tendency to alter over time.
2. Physics.
   ◆ If a system is in static equilibrium , there are no net forces and no net torque in the system.
3. Physics.
   ◆ If a system is in stable equilibrium , small disturbances to the system cause only a temporary change before it returns to its original state.
4. Chemistry.
   The state of a reversible chemical reaction in which its forward and reverse reactions occur at equal rates so that the concentration of the reactants and products remains the same.

equilibrium

¹

1. A condition in which all influences acting cancel each other, so that a static or balanced situation results. In physics , equilibrium results from the cancellation of forces acting on an object. In chemistry , it occurs when chemical reactions are proceeding in such a way that the amount of each substance in a system remains the same. ( See chemical equilibrium .)

equilibrium

²

1. In economics , a state of the economy in which for every commodity or service (including labor), total supply and demand are exactly equal. Equilibrium is never actually attained; it is approximated by movements of the market.

Notes

Keynesian economics departed from conventional economic theory in demonstrating that economic equilibrium and full employment need not occur together. Therefore, as a system tends toward equilibrium, it might not eliminate unemployment.

Other Words From

• e·quil·i·bra·to·ry [ih-, kwil, -, uh, -br, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, ee-kw, uh, -, lib, -r, uh, -, ek-w, uh, -], adjective
• none·qui·libri·um noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of equilibrium¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin aequilībrium, from aequi- equi- + lībr(a) “balance” + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of equilibrium¹

C17: from Latin aequilībrium, from aequi- equi- + lībra pound, balance

Example Sentences

Go back to the basic ground-school diagram of the four forces—lift, weight, thrust and drag—that must be in equilibrium.

From Popular-Science

As the beads cooled, they weren’t in thermal equilibrium, meaning their locations in the potential energy landscape weren’t distributed in a manner that would allow a single temperature to describe them.

From Science News

The first involves a basic blueprint strategy for the whole game, allowing it to reach a much faster equilibrium than its predecessor.

From Singularity Hub 

They believe that markets work best when supply and demand are allowed to find a natural equilibrium, with price acting as the referee.

From Freakonomics

So this sort of puts the onus on policymakers and funding agencies, and a sense of saying we need to change the equilibrium.

From Freakonomics

A tense, dynamic equilibrium between the U.S. and China seems more likely than a clear displacement of the former by the latter.

From The Daily Beast

But how many of us, thus sunk in despair, have not been vaulted back to equilibrium by another look at Groundhog Day?

From The Daily Beast

Since 1989, this arrangement has provided a workable degree of stability, but one based on an equilibrium of unstable elements.

From The Daily Beast

Lebanese politics for more than a decade have been characterized by an equilibrium of unstable elements.

From The Daily Beast

But by 2009, Aaron seemed to her to be regaining his equilibrium.

From The Daily Beast

Industrial society is therefore mobile, elastic, standing at any moment in a temporary and unstable equilibrium.

From Project Gutenberg

But the balanced forces once displaced would be seen constantly to come to an equilibrium at a new point.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a very simple plan, and will be perfectly tight; it is by restoring an equilibrium on both sides of the piston.

From Project Gutenberg

Michael, for sudden joy and excitement, was wellnigh thrown from his equilibrium.

From Project Gutenberg

The equilibrium valve is unchanged, except that the rack is taken out and a link put in.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• calmness
• composure
• serenity
• stability
• symmetry