displacement

noun

dis·​place·​ment (ˌ)dis-ˈplā-smənt How to pronounce displacement (audio)
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

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 The power plant’s displacement ranged from 1.3 liters to 2.0 liters through the production run. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2024 Specific output means this engine produces more power per liter, more power per cubic centimeter of displacement than any Ferrari road car engine ever. Mark Ewing, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 Her father was forced to leave Jaffa as a child during the 1948 displacement and war that founded the modern nation of Israel, and her mother was pushed out years later in the 1967 war. Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 16 Oct. 2024 Poverty, malnutrition, underlying health conditions, overcrowding, human conflict, displacement, and lack of access to medical care, hygiene or sanitation—all of these are risk factors for infectious disease, O’Brien says. Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for displacement 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'displacement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see displace

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of displacement was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near displacement

Cite this Entry

“Displacement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/displacement. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

displacement

noun
dis·​place·​ment -ˈplā-smənt How to pronounce displacement (audio)
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 How to pronounce displacement (audio)
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
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on displacement

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