displacement

noun

dis·​place·​ment (ˌ)dis-ˈplā-smənt 

di-ˈsplā-

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 sense 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

Synonyms of displacement

• expulsion
• deportation

Examples of displacement in a Sentence

The war has caused the displacement of thousands of people.

displacements in the Earth's crust

soil displacement caused by farming

Recent Examples on the Web

While Liden’s displacement and depersonalization of private property in Unheimlich Manöver could be perceived as the inversion of Darboven’s cocooning, the artists share a preoccupation with the silent speech of objects and with language as a spatial entity. —Erika Landström, Artforum, 2 June 2026

The practice, at least this year, has been an Archimedean displacement of power, as Democratic contenders filled the bottom of the bath with a divided vote, and Republicans, possibly to their own surprise, rose. —Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

According to Allison French, the senior director at the group ticket sales organization Broadway Inbound, the displacement of tourists could mirror the effect of other high-profile events hosted in the area like the Super Bowl and the Democratic National Convention. —Marc Hershberg, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

The virus is spreading in a region already challenged by armed conflict, population displacement, and weak health infrastructure. —Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

see displace

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for displacement

• abasement
• debasement
• defacement
• effacement
• emplacement
• encasement
• misplacement
• outplacement
• replacement
• basement
• placement

Kids Definition

displacement

noun

dis·​place·​ment -ˈplā-smənt 

1

: the act of displacing : the state of being displaced

2

a

: the volume or weight of a fluid (as water) displaced by a floating body (as a ship) of equal weight

b

: the difference between the first position of an object and any later position

c

: the volume displaced by a piston (as in a pump or engine) in a single stroke

also : the total volume displaced in this way by all the pistons in an internal-combustion engine (as of an automobile)

Medical Definition

displacement

noun

dis·​place·​ment -ˈplā-smənt 

1

a

: the act or process of removing something from its usual or proper place or the state resulting from this : dislocation

the displacement of a knee joint

b

: percolation sense 3

2

: the quantity in which or the degree to which something is displaced

3

a

: the redirection of an emotion or impulse from its original object (as an idea or person) to something that is more acceptable

b

: sublimation sense 2

c

: the substitution of another form of behavior for what is usual or expected especially when the usual response is nonadaptive

called also displacement activity, displacement behavior