displacement

noun

dis·place·ment | \ (ˌ)dis-ˈplā-smənt

, di-ˈsplā-\

Definition of displacement

1 : the act or process of displacing : the state of being displaced a storm that caused the displacement of thousands of people

2a 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

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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

Would that the displacement of the Rohingyas was Myanmar’s only source of ethnic conflict. — The Economist, "A Chinese development scheme complicates Myanmar’s ethnic conflicts," 29 Aug. 2019 Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press For Native American tribes, treaties with the United States government have often led to displacement, removal and outright erasure. — New York Times, "Cherokee Nation Seeks to Send First Delegate to Congress," 27 Aug. 2019 Another important caveat: Renters, who make up nearly half of all residents in the city and are vulnerable to displacement, are not factored into the study. — Julia Terruso, Philly.com, "The Fed: No sign of homeowners getting pushed from gentrifying neighborhoods," 20 Apr. 2018 Not quite a ship but certainly more expansive than an average barge, the Lomonosov measures about 1,548 feet in length with a width of 98 feet and displacement of 21,500 tons. — NBC News, "Russia's 'floating Chernobyl' nuclear plant begins voyage north," 23 Aug. 2019 That translates to about $68 per Venezuelan migrant in Colombia, considerably below what foreign governments and organizations have provided to nations responding to other mass displacements. — Washington Post, "UN envoy: International aid for Venezuelans falls short," 21 Aug. 2019 Set in a towering New York shelter that Kozol likened to an urban refugee camp, the book sought to excavate the causes of this great displacement. — Brian Goldstone, The New Republic, "The New American Homeless," 21 Aug. 2019 Poor access to quality health care, displacement due to conflict, complacency and a lack of awareness also play big roles, according to WHO. — Katie Hunt, CNN, "UK steps up fight after losing 'measles-free' status," 19 Aug. 2019 The group, established by the nonprofit Norwegian Refuge Council, tracks internal displacement worldwide. — Carlos Duarte, National Geographic, "The fight to protect the world’s most trafficked wild commodity," 16 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'displacement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for displacement

displacement

noun

English Language Learners Definition of displacement

: the act of forcing people or animals to leave the area where they live

: the movement of something from its original or regular position

technical : the amount of water that is moved by an object when it is placed in water

See the full definition for displacement in the English Language Learners Dictionary

displacement

noun

dis·place·ment | \ -ˈplā-smənt

Medical Definition of displacement

1a : 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

b : percolation sense 3

2 : the quantity in which or the degree to which something is displaced

3a : the redirection of an emotion or impulse from its original object (as an idea or person) to something that is more acceptable

b : sublimation sense 2

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

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displacement

Definition of displacement

Synonyms for displacement

Examples of displacement in a Sentence

First Known Use of displacement

History and Etymology for displacement

English Language Learners Definition of displacement

Medical Definition of displacement

displacement

Definition of displacement

Synonyms for displacement

Examples of displacement in a Sentence

First Known Use of displacement

History and Etymology for displacement

English Language Learners Definition of displacement

Medical Definition of displacement

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