steady state

noun

: a state or condition of a system or process (such as one of the energy states of an atom) that does not change in time

broadly : a condition that changes only negligibly over a specified time

steady-state

ˈste-dē-ˈstāt 

adjective

Examples of steady state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Having said that, audit and tax will remain a steady state niche market for which schools need to produce students. —Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024

And that’s the fear, that unemployment has drifted up now a fair amount, and it’s supposed to settle at a steady state, full employment level. —Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 5 Sep. 2024

Low-intensity steady state (LISS) cardio is exercise or physical activity that maintains the same, steady, low-intensity cardio pace for a period of time (at least 30 minutes). —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024

Like tokamaks, stellarators confine a fusion reaction by creating a magnetic cage, but stellarators require only magnets and are supposed to be more stable and operate at a steady state. —Katie Fehrenbacher, Axios, 30 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

steady state

noun

: a state or condition of a system or process that does not change or changes only slightly over time

on the average a living cell maintains a steady state

Medical Definition

steady state

noun

1

: a state or condition of a system or process (as one of the energy states of an atom) that does not change in time

2

: a state of physiological equilibrium especially in connection with a specified metabolic relation or activity