resilience

noun

re·​sil·​ience ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s How to pronounce resilience (audio)
1
: the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress
2
: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

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Using Resilience Outside of Physics

In physics, resilience is the ability of an elastic material (such as rubber or animal tissue) to absorb energy (such as from a blow) and release that energy as it springs back to its original shape. The recovery that occurs in this phenomenon can be viewed as analogous to a person's ability to bounce back after a jarring setback. The word resilience derives from the present participle of the Latin verb resilire, meaning "to jump back" or "to recoil." The base of resilire is salire, a verb meaning "to leap" that also pops up in the etymologies of such sprightly words as sally and somersault.

Examples of resilience in a Sentence

… the concert remained a remarkable tribute to Dylan's resilience and continued relevance. Susan Richardson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994
He squeezed the rubber with a clamp and then released it—demonstrating with this painfully simple experiment that the material lost its resilience and therefore its ability to flex rapidly enough to protect the rocket joint from tumultuous hot gases. James Gleick, New York Times Book Review, 13 Nov. 1988
With amazing resilience the two tribes pulled together and set out to found a new town farther up the river. Carolyn Gilman, American Indian Art Magazine, Spring 1988
It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment. Bram Stoker, Dracula, 1897
The rescue workers showed remarkable resilience in dealing with the difficult conditions. Cold temperatures caused the material to lose resilience.
Recent Examples on the Web What is doing that now for the company, and what categories have surprising resilience? Byphil Wahba, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 The second is President Biden, extolling the nation’s resilience in his State of the Union address last week. Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Laced with fantasy, satire and a dark sense of humor, his stories depict the struggle, suffering and resilience of ordinary individuals, without shying away from the brutality, greed and corruption under Communist rule. Nectar Gan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 Europe has shown its political and economic resilience in the face of Russian aggression. Max Bergmann, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2024 Grading the Trump versus Biden economies Many economists today say the U.S. is showing surprising economic resilience, dodging a recession and continuing to add jobs. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 Businesses are constantly seeking strategies to maintain growth and resilience. Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Zig-zagging builds resilience by exposing employees to different challenges and experiences, equipping them with the ability to navigate uncertainty and setbacks. Innovation. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Certainly, there are multiple other factors beyond women’s employment driving the economy’s resilience. TIME, 1 Mar. 2024

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

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of resilience was in 1807

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Dictionary Entries Near resilience

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

resilience

noun
re·​sil·​ience ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s How to pronounce resilience (audio)
1
: the ability of a body to regain its original size and shape after being compressed, bent, or stretched : elasticity
2
: the ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune or change

Medical Definition

resilience

noun
re·​sil·​ience ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s How to pronounce resilience (audio)
1
: the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress
2
: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change
emotional resilience
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