buoyancy

noun

buoy·​an·​cy ˈbȯi-ən(t)-sē How to pronounce buoyancy (audio)
ˈbü-yən(t)-
1
a
: the tendency of a body to float or to rise when submerged in a fluid
testing an object's buoyancy
b
chemistry : the power of a fluid to exert an upward force on a body placed in it
the buoyancy of water
also : the upward force exerted
2
: the ability to recover quickly from depression or discouragement : resilience
his buoyancy of spirit
3
: the property of maintaining a satisfactorily high level (as of prices or economic activity)
betting that the economy will maintain its buoyancy

Examples of buoyancy in a Sentence

the natural buoyancy of cork The swimmer is supported by the water's buoyancy. We hope that the economy will maintain its buoyancy.
Recent Examples on the Web Though their slick and moody pop-R&B waded through fleeting pleasures and late-night murmurings, there was still a touch of buoyancy that allowed the sun to rise the next day. Teta Alim, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023 The change of circumstances gives the new songs a kind of buoyancy. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023 With the smaller buoyancy force, there is less displaced water. WIRED, 28 July 2023 King is in his element with caper comedy, so there’s buoyancy in the chaotic plotting as Wonka and his workhouse cronies use an underground network of storm drains to escape the laundry and evade their increasingly murderous pursuers. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2023 The economy’s buoyancy was mostly due to the strength of consumers, who had amassed savings while staying home during lockdowns. John Kell, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2023 So any change in gravity affects the system’s buoyancy, and thus the movement of the vapor relative to the liquid. Issam Mudawar, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2023 The second-act problem here, though, is that the story loses altitude without the buoyancy of music. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023 Another limiting factor on Earth, buoyancy, is absent in microgravity. Debbie G. Senesky, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

see buoy entry 1

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of buoyancy was in 1713

Dictionary Entries Near buoyancy

Cite this Entry

“Buoyancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buoyancy. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

buoyancy

noun
buoy·​an·​cy ˈbȯi-ən-sē How to pronounce buoyancy (audio)
ˈbü-yən-
1
: the tendency of a body to float or to rise when in a fluid
the buoyancy of a cork in water
2
: the power of a fluid to put an upward force on a body placed in it
the buoyancy of seawater
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