cosmological constant

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. a term introduced by Einstein into his field equations of general relativity to permit a stationary, nonexpanding universe: it has since been abandoned in most models of the universe.

---

Etymology

Origin of cosmological constant

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cosmological constant

The revival of the cosmological constant created a serious problem.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026

Just as topology locks the Hall voltage into specific values, the topology of space-time could lock the cosmological constant into stable values, protecting it from the quantum fluctuations that would otherwise drive it much higher.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026

To keep his equations from predicting a collapsing universe, he introduced the cosmological constant as a kind of repulsive effect in empty space that counterbalanced gravity.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026

Their work suggests that a mathematical feature of space-time itself may prevent the cosmological constant from ballooning to the huge values expected from quantum physics.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026

In attempting to incorporate the uncertainty principle into general relativity, one has only two quantities that can be adjusted: the strength of gravity and the value of the cosmological constant.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking