equilibrium

American  

[ee-kwuh-lib-ree-uhm, ek-wuh-] / ˌi kwəˈlɪb ri əm, ˌɛk wə- /

noun

plural

equilibriums, equilibria

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

   Synonyms:

   stability, steadiness, 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.

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equilibrium British  

/ ˌiːkwɪˈlɪbrɪəm /

noun

1. a stable condition in which forces cancel one another

2. a state or feeling of mental balance; composure

3. 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

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equilibrium Scientific  

/ 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.

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equilibrium ¹ Cultural  

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.)

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equilibrium ² Cultural  

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.

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Discover More

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 Word Forms

• equilibratory adjective
• nonequilibrium noun

Etymology

Origin of equilibrium

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

Example Sentences

Similar concerns animate Andrews’ sculpture practice, which she’s returned to now that her life has regained equilibrium.

From Los Angeles Times

Health was a state of equilibrium, according to this view, a precarious balance among the body’s four humors.

From The Wall Street Journal

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in media interviews this week that the U.S. relationship with China has reached a “very good equilibrium.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He planned his new book to be about this rebalancing, about how the world was transitioning to a new equilibrium—one with greater peace and stability.

From Barron's

He planned his new book to be about this rebalancing, about how the world was transitioning to a new equilibrium—one with greater peace and stability.

From Barron's

Related Words

• calmness
• composure
• serenity
• stability
• symmetry