reluctance

noun

re·​luc·​tance ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s How to pronounce reluctance (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being reluctant
2
: the opposition offered in a magnetic circuit to magnetic flux
specifically : the ratio of the magnetic potential difference to the corresponding flux

Examples of reluctance in a Sentence

the mice showed an odd reluctance to eat the cheese we had put out for them
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The reluctance of China — the world's largest importer of soybeans — to resume purchases of America's crops further dimmed hopes for a trade accord. Anniek Bao,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025 Miss Manners can understand your reluctance to play a supporting role in this rerun. Judith Martin, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 For all the talk about the front office’s reluctance to make in-season trades over the years, that often stemmed from a refusal to give up on even the bleakest seasons. Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 Polaco expressed his reluctance to ask for assistance but detailed his difficult situation. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reluctance

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reluctance was circa 1628

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctance. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

reluctance

noun
re·​luc·​tance ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s How to pronounce reluctance (audio)
: the quality or state of being reluctant

More from Merriam-Webster on reluctance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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