zero-sum
adjective
Did you know?
Does game theory sound like fun? It can be—if you are a mathematician or economist who needs to analyze a competitive situation in which the outcome is determined by the choices of the players and chance. Game theory was introduced by mathematician John von Neumann and economist Oskar Morgenstern in their 1944 book The Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. In game theory, a zero-sum game is one, such as chess or checkers, where each player has a clear purpose that is completely opposed to that of the opponent. In economics, a situation is zero-sum if the gains of one party are exactly balanced by the losses of another and no net gain or loss is created; however, such situations in real life are rare.
Examples of zero-sum in a Sentence
Maris Kreizman
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
The legacy of Nelson Mandela teaches us that justice is not a zero-sum game.
—Mbongiseni Buthelezi, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
Jim Cramer, and others on the Street, have pushed back on the idea that the AI infrastructure build-out taking place is somehow a zero-sum game.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Not a zero-sum game Just as employing a diverse workforce is perfectly legal, so too is taking action to value diverse perspectives and leadership.
—Deborah Widiss, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero-sum
Cite this Entry
“Zero-sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zero-sum. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share