resiliency

re·sil·ien·cy | \ ri-ˈzil-yən(t)-sē

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plural resiliencies

Definition of resiliency

1 : the ability of something to return to its original size and shape after being compressed or deformed : resilience sense 1 Most of these rollers have to be replaced every few years when the rubber loses its resiliency.— Steve Rosenthal Upholstery consisted of lightweight leather cushions; frequently there were springs beneath the cushions for added resiliency.— Daniel M. Mendelowitz

2 : an ability to recover from or adjust easily to adversity or change : resilience sense 2 … the resiliency of nature and humans in the wake of fires, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, and other destructive forces.— Richard K. Snow et al. The Brewers have shown a resiliency through the season's ups and downs … — Associated Press The project's goal is to develop … cultivars with certain traits; for example, better climate resiliency and better tolerance for low water and low fertilizer conditions.— Julie Chao

Examples of resiliency in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Long before the mass shooting, El Paso’s resiliency was being tested by everything from cries for a border wall coming from the White House to a humanitarian immigration crisis. — Dallas News, "‘Boom, Boom, Boom,‘ victims recall. Emotions raw as deadly mass shooting anniversary in El Paso nears," 29 July 2020 Outbreaks of deadly viruses have and will continue to test our resiliency and force us to band together to find ways to contain the spread, build immunity, or quickly find a vaccine. — Scott Tipton, The Denver Post, "Tipton: U.S. must end reliance on China for critical supplies," 1 May 2020 Bluegills and sunfish have a unique eagerness to take a bait, and a resiliency not to give up once hooked. — Steve Ryan, Outdoor Life, "10 Tips for Catching Giant Bluegills This Summer," 2 July 2020 There’s less risk of customer attrition and more resiliency in a downturn with these. — Michal Lev-ram, Fortune, "NYSE’s chief commercial officer on direct listings and reopening the trading floor," 23 June 2020 But now, with a $5,000 resiliency grant from the city of Phoenix, Sayles has recovered from her initial financial losses and put a deposit on a commercial kitchen. — Emilly Davis, The Arizona Republic, "'Definitely a blessing': Phoenix grant helps put dessert company back on track during pandemic," 1 Jan. 2019 Charging up the brain helps regulate emotions and build resiliency. — Jen Rose Smith, CNN, "Anxiety makes us bad decision-makers. Here's how to do better even if you're worried about everything," 9 July 2020 There is an iron will and resiliency on the Bryan Street block. — Nick Rallo, Dallas News, "Bryan Street survival: How one of Dallas’ most essential dining blocks is living through crisis," 30 June 2020 Photographer Anand Varma captured this image while on an expedition to explore the resiliency of coastal areas. — National Geographic, "How do you steer clear of dangerous animals?," 11 June 2020

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