displacement
noun
dis·place·ment
(ˌ)dis-ˈplā-smənt 
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
Synonyms
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
To make this discovery now, as the community faced new displacement, felt profound.
—
Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Rebecca Hefner, director of the city’s Housing and Neighborhood Services, said former Lamplighter tenants can reach out to the caseworker assigned to them when the city’s mass displacement effort began in December.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
Even amid the Israeli missiles, thousands of Palestinians were preparing to leave behind displacement camps and return en masse to homes in Gaza City and the north.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jan. 2025
The wildfires have caused significant displacement, and there is an urgent need for food, shelter and emotional support for affected families.
—Tavleen Tarrant, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for displacement 
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Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Rebecca Hefner, director of the city’s Housing and Neighborhood Services, said former Lamplighter tenants can reach out to the caseworker assigned to them when the city’s mass displacement effort began in December.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
Even amid the Israeli missiles, thousands of Palestinians were preparing to leave behind displacement camps and return en masse to homes in Gaza City and the north.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jan. 2025
The wildfires have caused significant displacement, and there is an urgent need for food, shelter and emotional support for affected families.
—Tavleen Tarrant, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for displacement
Dictionary Entries Near displacement
Cite this Entry
“Displacement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/displacement. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
displacement
noun
dis·place·ment
-ˈplā-smənt
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
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
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