ergodic

American  

[ur-god-ik] / ɜrˈgɒd ɪk /

adjective

Mathematics, Statistics.

1. of or relating to the condition that, in an interval of sufficient duration, a system will return to states that are closely similar to previous ones: the assumption of such a condition underlies statistical methods used in modern dynamics and atomic theory.

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Other Word Forms

• ergodicity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of ergodic

1925–30; erg(o)- ¹ + Greek ( h ) od ( ós ) way, road + -ic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ergodic

Recasting problems, as Dr. Margulis did using ergodic theory, often does not make it easier to solve them.

From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2020

The general idea of using the trajectory of an object to reveal information about the space it is moving through is called ergodic theory.

From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2020

But the ergodic theory revealed hidden universal truth, enabling Dr. Margulis to make quick progress on some previously intractable problems.

From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2020

For example, although academics discuss "ergodic literature" where a book's narrative is created in part by the reader, the average reader would be more familiar with choose-your-own-adventure books, or early PC text adventure games.

From The Verge ● Feb. 9, 2016

A buzzword from the emergent critical vocabulary of "ergodic" literature may help: one doesn't read Sinclair so much as "navigate" him.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 15, 2011