hysteresis

noun

hys·​ter·​e·​sis ˌhi-stə-ˈrē-səs How to pronounce hysteresis (audio)
plural hystereses ˌhi-stə-ˈrē-ˌsēz How to pronounce hysteresis (audio)
physics : a slowing of an effect when the forces acting upon a body are changed (as if from viscosity or internal friction)
all manometers must be tested for hysteresis as well as for sensitivity and natural frequency— H. D. Green
especially : a lagging in the values of resulting magnetization in a magnetic material (such as iron) due to a changing magnetizing force
hysteretic
ˌhi-stə-ˈre-tik How to pronounce hysteresis (audio)
adjective

Examples of hysteresis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Among his electronic competitors was Thomas, a foppish, rail-thin twentysomething with a penchant for provocatively unbuttoned silk shirts, and who spoke nonchalantly about Gaussian functions, Faraday’s law of induction, and something called the hysteresis curve. — Matthew Sherrill, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 Having what’s known as a rectangular hysteresis loop ensured that the material would stay solidly magnetized in one of these states after power was removed. — IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek hysterēsis shortcoming, from hysterein to be late, fall short, from hysteros later — more at out entry 1

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hysteresis was in 1882

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Cite this Entry

“Hysteresis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysteresis. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

hysteresis

noun
hys·​ter·​e·​sis ˌhis-tə-ˈrē-səs How to pronounce hysteresis (audio)
plural hystereses -ˌsēz How to pronounce hysteresis (audio)
1
: the lagging of a physical effect on a body behind its cause (as behind changed forces and conditions)
all manometers must be tested for hysteresis as well as for sensitivity and natural frequency— H. D. Green
2
a
: the influence of the previous history or treatment of a body on its subsequent response to a given force or changed condition
a study has been made of the phenomenon of rennet hysteresis, in which the time of coagulation of heated milk is progressively greater with increase in the time interval between heating and addition of rennet— J. S. Fruton
b
: the changed response of a body that results from this influence

More from Merriam-Webster on hysteresis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hysteresis

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