hysteresis
noun
hys·ter·e·sis
ˌhi-stə-ˈrē-səs 
plural hystereses
ˌhi-stə-ˈrē-ˌsēz
physics
: a slowing 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
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
Examples of hysteresis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Among his electronic competitors was Thomas, a foppish, rail-thin twentysomething with a penchant for provocatively unbuttoned silk shirts, and who spoke nonchalantly about Gaussian functions, Faraday’s law of induction, and something called the hysteresis curve.
—Matthew Sherrill, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
Having what’s known as a rectangular hysteresis loop ensured that the material would stay solidly magnetized in one of these states after power was removed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2022
The digital detectors used by the camera suffered from an issue called quantum efficiency hysteresis, or QEH—when WF/PC took an image of a bright object, there was an afterimage left behind that would mess up later observations.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Jan. 2025
Consequently, eliminating this hysteresis is a promising step toward ensuring the long-term performance of perovskite cells, and Bisquert expects that others working on perovskite solar cells will want to try Seok’s new recipe.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2015
Efficiencies are often measured by plotting a curve of current against voltage—but for perovskites, the curves differ depending on whether the voltage is increasing or decreasing, an anomaly known as hysteresis that may have led to overestimates of perovskite performance in the past.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2015
Indeed, the team speculate that the hysteresis curve is characteristic of the type of alcohol used to create the insulating layer.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2021
These objects become permanently magnetized, through a process called hysteresis.
—Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 29 Mar. 2023
This kind of hysteresis is common: Kill one too many top predators in an ecosystem, for instance, and the altered dynamics might cause the prey population to suddenly explode; add a predator back again and the prey population stays elevated.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Matthew Sherrill, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
Having what’s known as a rectangular hysteresis loop ensured that the material would stay solidly magnetized in one of these states after power was removed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2022
The digital detectors used by the camera suffered from an issue called quantum efficiency hysteresis, or QEH—when WF/PC took an image of a bright object, there was an afterimage left behind that would mess up later observations.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Jan. 2025
Consequently, eliminating this hysteresis is a promising step toward ensuring the long-term performance of perovskite cells, and Bisquert expects that others working on perovskite solar cells will want to try Seok’s new recipe.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2015
Efficiencies are often measured by plotting a curve of current against voltage—but for perovskites, the curves differ depending on whether the voltage is increasing or decreasing, an anomaly known as hysteresis that may have led to overestimates of perovskite performance in the past.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2015
Indeed, the team speculate that the hysteresis curve is characteristic of the type of alcohol used to create the insulating layer.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2021
These objects become permanently magnetized, through a process called hysteresis.
—Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 29 Mar. 2023
This kind of hysteresis is common: Kill one too many top predators in an ecosystem, for instance, and the altered dynamics might cause the prey population to suddenly explode; add a predator back again and the prey population stays elevated.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Hysteresis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysteresis. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hysteresis
noun
hys·ter·e·sis
ˌhis-tə-ˈrē-səs
plural hystereses
-ˌsēz
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
H. D. Green2
a
: 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
J. S. Fruton
b
: the changed response of a body that results from this influence
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share