resilience

noun

re·​sil·​ience ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s 

1

: the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress

2

: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

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Using Resilience Outside of Physics

In physics, resilience is the ability of an elastic material (such as rubber or animal tissue) to absorb energy (such as from a blow) and release that energy as it springs back to its original shape. The recovery that occurs in this phenomenon can be viewed as analogous to a person's ability to bounce back after a jarring setback. The word resilience derives from the present participle of the Latin verb resilire, meaning "to jump back" or "to recoil." The base of resilire is salire, a verb meaning "to leap" that also pops up in the etymologies of such sprightly words as sally and somersault.

Examples of resilience in a Sentence

… the concert remained a remarkable tribute to Dylan's resilience and continued relevance. —Susan Richardson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994

He squeezed the rubber with a clamp and then released it—demonstrating with this painfully simple experiment that the material lost its resilience and therefore its ability to flex rapidly enough to protect the rocket joint from tumultuous hot gases. —James Gleick, New York Times Book Review, 13 Nov. 1988

With amazing resilience the two tribes pulled together and set out to found a new town farther up the river. —Carolyn Gilman, American Indian Art Magazine, Spring 1988

It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment. —Bram Stoker, Dracula, 1897

The rescue workers showed remarkable resilience in dealing with the difficult conditions.

Cold temperatures caused the material to lose resilience.

Recent Examples on the Web

Webb suggests imagining alternative intelligences — like mosses — that prioritize coexistence and ecological resilience over dominance, offering a radically different model for future AI. —Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 8 Oct. 2025

Other global financial chiefs have similarly pointed to unexpected resilience, with nations skirting an escalating, tit-for-tat trade war that threatened to hobble markets. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025

The new Tottenham coach has instilled a greater solidity and resilience in the side that looks to be an excellent foundation for long-term success, but those attacking tools will need sharpening in the short term. —Mark Carey, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

Industry and gaps in resilience Taiwan’s greatest advantage is its civilian tech sector. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see resilient

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

resilience

noun

re·​sil·​ience ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s 

1

: the ability of a body to regain its original size and shape after being compressed, bent, or stretched : elasticity

2

: the ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune or change

Medical Definition

resilience

noun

re·​sil·​ience ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s 

1

: the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress

2

: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

emotional resilience