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

• banishment
• deportation
• exile
• expatriation
• expulsion
• relegation

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

Hailstones can also cause punctures, tears, fractures, bruises and the more common displacement of granules, which can expose asphalt shingles to the sun’s rays and ultraviolet degradation. —Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025

The news came during a frustrating and uncertain period as Palisades residents recover from the devastation of the wildfire and grapple with the mass displacement of their community. —Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

Their actual, personal stories are richer, more nuanced, less fixated on the facts and acts of brutality that give rise to displacement. —Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 21 May 2025

The country has had political violence and instability since then, with civilian deaths, abductions and displacements as recently as 2024, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see displace

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for displacement

• abasement
• debasement
• defacement
• effacement
• emplacement
• encasement
• misplacement
• outplacement
• replacement
• basement
• placement

Kids 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

b

: percolation sense 3

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

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