superposition

noun

su·​per·​po·​si·​tion ˌsü-pər-pə-ˈzi-shən 

plural superpositions

: the placement of one thing above or on top of another

The principle used to determine whether one sedimentary rock is older than another is very simple, and is known as the law of superposition. Here is an example: A deposit of mud laid down this year in, say, the Gulf of Mexico will rest on top of a layer that was deposited last year.

—Sheldon Judson and Marvin E. Kauffman

especially, physics : the combination of two distinct physical phenomena of the same type (such as spin or wavelength) so that they coexist as part of the same event

Schrödinger perversely suggested that until the box was opened and the outcome of the experiment observed, the particle must remain suspended in a superposition of two states: simultaneously going through both holes.

—George Johnson

In a quantum computer, however, the "transistors" remain in a superposition of 0 and 1 …

—Philip Yam

Examples of superposition in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While most qubits are based on a single quantum object being placed in this sort of superposition of states, a cat qubit has a collection of objects in a single superposition. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 26 Feb. 2025

Unlike these classical bits, qubits (quantum bits) can exist in a superposition of states (both 0 and 1 simultaneously) and become entangled, enabling them to influence each other regardless of distance. —David Joosten, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

But quantum computers can exploit quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement to compute these problems much faster, and a powerful enough machine should be able to break current encryption. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2024

Next Slide Interference When qubits in a state of superposition interact, this is called interference. —Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for superposition

• academician
• cycloaddition
• decomposition
• diagnostician
• disinhibition
• indisposition
• interposition
• juxtaposition
• mathematician
• metacognition
• metaphysician
• neurotransmission