displacement

noun

dis·​place·​ment (ˌ)dis-ˈplā-smənt How to pronounce displacement (audio)
di-ˈsplā-
1
: the act or process of displacing : the state of being displaced
a storm that caused the displacement of thousands of people
2
a
physics : the volume or weight of a fluid (such as water) displaced (see displace sense 2a) by a floating body (such as a ship) of equal weight
b
: the difference between the initial position of something (such as a body or geometric figure) and any later position
c
mechanical engineering : the volume displaced by a piston (as in a pump or an engine) in a single stroke
also, automotive vehicles : the total volume so displaced by all the pistons in an internal combustion engine
3
psychology
a
: the redirection of an emotion or impulse from its original object (such as an idea or person) to another
the displacement of his emotions
b
: the substitution of another form of behavior for what is usual or expected especially when the usual response is nonadaptive or socially inappropriate

called also displacement activity, displacement behavior

Examples of displacement in a Sentence

The war has caused the displacement of thousands of people. displacements in the Earth's crust soil displacement caused by farming
Recent Examples on the Web As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, the nation's children are feeling the overwhelming stress of displacement and life under the constant threat of attack. Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Entire families have been erased and displacement shelters flattened. Khader Al Za’anoun, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 Past research involving prismatic spectacles (glasses with stick-on overlays that cause distortions and displacement) suggests that people can adapt to significant visual disturbances, Ratan says. Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2024 Funds that could be allocated toward solutions and displacement prevention are diverted elsewhere due to mismanagement. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024 The trauma of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the loss of past Russian imperial glory, Borenstein writes, have generated in Russia a profound sense of displacement, which has given rise to new forms of identity. Eliot Borenstein, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 On the docket for next week: The City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee meets Tuesday to discuss strategies for preserving affordable housing and reducing displacement in South L.A. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2024 That aspect of the plan would require Israel to invade Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza, where most Gazans are currently sheltering, risking their mass displacement onto Egyptian territory, an outcome that Egypt has repeatedly warned against. Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Israel’s bombardment and severe restrictions on aid entering the strip have diminished critical food, fuel, water and medical supplies, decimated the health care system and exposed the entire population of more than 2.2 million people to mass displacement and deadly disease. Khader Al Za’anoun, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'displacement.' 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 displace

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of displacement was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near displacement

Cite this Entry

“Displacement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/displacement. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

displacement

noun
dis·​place·​ment -ˈplā-smənt How to pronounce displacement (audio)
1
: the act of displacing : the state of being displaced
2
a
: the volume or weight of a fluid (as water) displaced by a floating body (as a ship) of equal weight
b
: the difference between the first position of an object and any later position
c
: the volume displaced by a piston (as in a pump or engine) in a single stroke
also : the total volume displaced in this way by all the pistons in an internal-combustion engine (as of an automobile)

Medical Definition

displacement

noun
dis·​place·​ment -ˈplā-smənt How to pronounce displacement (audio)
1
a
: the act or process of removing something from its usual or proper place or the state resulting from this : dislocation
the displacement of a knee joint
2
: the quantity in which or the degree to which something is displaced
3
a
: the redirection of an emotion or impulse from its original object (as an idea or person) to something that is more acceptable
c
: the substitution of another form of behavior for what is usual or expected especially when the usual response is nonadaptive

called also displacement activity, displacement behavior

More from Merriam-Webster on displacement

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