Definition of displacement
1
: the act or process of displacing : the state of being displaced
- a storm that caused the displacement of thousands of people
2 a
physics
: the volume or weight of a fluid (such as water) displaced (see displace 2a) by a floating body (such as a ship) of equal weight
b
: the difference between the initial position of something (such as a body or geometric figure) and any later position
c
mechanical engineering
: the volume displaced by a piston (as in a pump or an engine) in a single stroke;
also, automotive vehicles
: the total volume so displaced by all the pistons in an internal combustion engine
3
psychology
a
: the redirection of an emotion or impulse from its original object (such as an idea or person) to another
- the displacement of his emotions
b
: the substitution of another form of behavior for what is usual or expected especially when the usual response is nonadaptive or socially inappropriate — called also
displacement activity, displacement behavior
