equilibrium

noun

equi·lib·ri·um | \ˌē-kwə-ˈli-brē-əm,

ˌe-\

plural equilibriums or equilibria\ ˌē-kwə-ˈli-brē-ə ,

ˌe- \

Definition of equilibrium

1a : a state of intellectual or emotional balance : poise trying to recover his equilibrium

b : a state of adjustment between opposing or divergent influences or elements

2 : a state of balance between opposing forces or actions that is either static (as in a body acted on by forces whose resultant is zero) or dynamic (as in a reversible chemical reaction when the rates of reaction in both directions are equal)

3 : balance sense 3a

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about equilibrium

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Examples of equilibrium in a Sentence

Supply and demand were in equilibrium. we must find an equilibrium between commercial development and conservation of our natural treasures

Recent Examples on the Web

Every campaign season features battles that test partisan loyalties, but for sheer equilibrium-busting, the race for Pierce County prosecutor is hard to match. — Sean Robinson, The Seattle Times, "Superheated race for Pierce County prosecutor, pitting boss against former chief deputy, is most expensive county-level contest in state," 5 Aug. 2018 Finally, and most disturbing to the careful equilibrium the women have constructed on their own, is Hortense's next son Georges (Cyril Descours), young and handsome and with some of the entitlement that goes with being a mother's favorite. — Kenneth Turan, latimes.com, "Intimate epic 'The Guardians' distills how war changes everything for a French family," 10 May 2018 In the year since then, an equilibrium of sorts has held. — Andrew Prokop, Vox, "Why Trump hasn’t tried to pardon his way out of the Mueller probe — yet," 1 June 2018 But longer dry seasons, the expansion of the desert and one of the world’s fastest-growing populations, has destroyed that equilibrium. — Joe Parkinson, WSJ, "Dwindling Farmland Sparks a Deadly Conflict in Nigeria," 27 May 2018 The effect of the injury upon the man seems to have been the destruction of the equilibrium between his intellectual faculties and the animal propensities. — Daniel C. Schlenoff, Scientific American, "“Foul Treachery” of Trotsky and Lenin in 1918; Phineas Gage’s Brain in 1868," 13 July 2018 One dose of compost ignited what Silver calls a state change: The plants and the soil — and everything that inhabited it — moved toward a new equilibrium in which the soil ecosystem pulled in and retained greater amounts of carbon. — Moises Velasquez-manoff, New York Times, "Can Dirt Save the Earth?," 18 Apr. 2018 With the market moving toward equilibrium and bloated inventories shrinking, the next step for global producers will be to phase out the reductions, Khalid Al-Falih told reporters in New Delhi on Saturday. — Debjit Chakraborty, Bloomberg.com, "Saudis See Oil Output Cuts Easing in 2019," 24 Feb. 2018 The spoon shook, tipping toward the handle end, and Morris Melnik quickly poured a little salt into the bowl of the spoon to give it equilibrium. — Ben Taub, The New Yorker, "The Boarder," 30 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'equilibrium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near equilibrium

equilibrium moisture content

equilibrium price

Statistics for equilibrium

Last Updated

19 Nov 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for equilibrium

The first known use of equilibrium was in 1608

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More Definitions for equilibrium

equilibrium

noun

English Language Learners Definition of equilibrium

: a state in which opposing forces or actions are balanced so that one is not stronger or greater than the other

: a state of emotional balance or calmness

See the full definition for equilibrium in the English Language Learners Dictionary

equilibrium

noun

equi·lib·ri·um | \ˌē-kwə-ˈli-brē-əm,

ˌe-kwə-\

Kids Definition of equilibrium

1 : a state of balance between opposing forces or actions

2 : the normal balanced state of the body that is maintained by the inner ear and that keeps a person or animal from falling

equilibrium

noun

equi·lib·ri·um | \ˌē-kwə-ˈlib-rē-əm,

ˌek-wə-

plural equilibriums or equilibria\ -rē-ə

Medical Definition of equilibrium

1 : a state of balance between opposing forces or actions that is either static (as in a body acted on by forces whose resultant is zero) or dynamic (as in a reversible chemical reaction when the velocities in both directions are equal)

2 : a state of intellectual or emotional balance