Equilibrium

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /É›kwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/, /iːkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/

Alternative forms

• æquilibrium

Origin

From Latin æquilībrium, from æquus ("equal") + lībra ("balance").

Full definition of equilibrium

Noun

1. The condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced, resulting in no net change.
• 1999, The Matrix, Agent smith speechEvery mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed and the only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus.
2. (physics) The state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero.
3. (chemistry) The state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same.
4. Mental balance.

Synonyms

• (a condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced) balance, stability
• (mental balance) sanity

Antonyms

• (a condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced) disequilibrium, imbalance, instability
• (in physics) disequilibrium, non-equilibrium
• (mental balance) insanity, instability, madness

Hypernyms

• (in physics) stasis

Derived terms

Related terms

• equilibrate
• equilibrize