invisible hand

noun

: a hypothetical economic force that in a freely competitive market works for the benefit of all

Examples of invisible hand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web How generous is the invisible hand, to sweep its light toward every corner, through the colors of the glass, into our ceramic cups. Tara Monjazeb, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2024 There is no magic market force, no invisible hand from either Adam Smith or Dwight Eisenhower, that will reignite the defense-industrial base. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023 Adam Smith didn’t expect the invisible hand to bring about stronger national defense. Dominic Pino, National Review, 14 Dec. 2023 But if the invisible hand of global capitalism will force structural changes, public attitudes and political leadership remain essential parts of long-term solutions – and ongoing obstacles. Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2023 There, Gerwig sets the scene and tone with Barbie (Margot Robbie) — who calls herself stereotypical Barbie — soon floating out of her Dreamhouse, as if she were being lifted by a giant invisible hand. Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 19 July 2023 And increasing bouts of extreme weather that destroyed crops, forced migrations and halted power plants has illustrated that the market’s invisible hand was not protecting the planet. Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 18 June 2023 At its heart, Triller’s AI serves as an invisible hand, guiding and augmenting creators, brands, and audiences' experiences. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 2 June 2023 The public’s direct confrontations with Pakistan’s powerful military — which for decades has been an invisible hand wielding power behind the government — were unlike anything the country had experienced in recent memory. Christina Goldbaum and Salman Masood, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'invisible hand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of invisible hand was in 1759

Dictionary Entries Near invisible hand

Cite this Entry

“Invisible hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invisible%20hand. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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