hysteresis

noun

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hys·ter·e·sis | \ ˌhi-stə-ˈrē-səs

plural hystereses\ ˌhi-stə-ˈrē-ˌsēz

Definition of hysteresis

physics : a retardation of an effect when the forces acting upon a body are changed (as if from viscosity or internal friction) all manometers must be tested for hysteresis as well as for sensitivity and natural frequency— H. D. Green especially : a lagging in the values of resulting magnetization in a magnetic material (such as iron) due to a changing magnetizing force

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Examples of hysteresis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Economists borrowed the term hysteresis from the physics of magnetism. — Jon Hilsenrath, WSJ, "The Long-Term Economic Costs of Lost Schooling," 25 Feb. 2021 For many years, economists have looked for evidence of hysteresis in labor markets. — Jon Hilsenrath, WSJ, "The Long-Term Economic Costs of Lost Schooling," 25 Feb. 2021 But their data suggested that hysteresis was still happening. — Siobhan Roberts, New York Times, "Why Birds Are the World’s Best Engineers," 17 Mar. 2020 There’s some heated (so to speak) debate about what really causes hysteresis. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, "How a Single Drop of Olive Oil Led to a Great Leap Forward in Physics," 22 Apr. 2020 These objects become permanently magnetized, through a process called hysteresis. — Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, "How Do Magnets Work?," 7 Dec. 2019 Paleoclimatologists said this hysteresis might explain other puzzles about the paleoclimate record. — Natalie Wolchover, WIRED, "As the World Warms, Clouds Could Disappear—Catastrophically," 3 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hysteresis.' 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 hysteresis

hysteresis coefficient

hysteresis loop

hysteresis loss

Statistics for hysteresis

Last Updated

30 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Hysteresis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysteresis. Accessed 13 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for hysteresis

hysteresis

noun

hys·ter·e·sis | \ ˌhis-tə-ˈrē-səs

plural hystereses\ -ˌsēz

Medical Definition of hysteresis

1 : the lagging of a physical effect on a body behind its cause (as behind changed forces and conditions) all manometers must be tested for hysteresis as well as for sensitivity and natural frequency— H. D. Green

2a : the influence of the previous history or treatment of a body on its subsequent response to a given force or changed condition a study has been made of the phenomenon of rennet hysteresis, in which the time of coagulation of heated milk is progressively greater with increase in the time interval between heating and addition of rennet— J. S. Fruton

b : the changed response of a body that results from this influence

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