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Displacement Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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displacement

[dษชsหˆpleษชsmษ™nt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

physics

The moving of something from its place or position.

Synonyms

movement, relocation, shift, transfer.

Examples of usage

  • The displacement of the piston in an engine.
  • The displacement of water caused by a passing ship.
Context #2 | Noun

geology

The process of one part of the Earth's crust moving upwards in relation to another.

Synonyms

movement, shift, uplift.

Examples of usage

  • The displacement along the fault line.
Context #3 | Noun

psychology

The unconscious transfer of an intense emotion from its original object to another one.

Synonyms

projection, substitution, transference.

Examples of usage

  • The displacement of anger towards a family member.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • In psychology, displacement refers to redirecting emotions from a true source of distress to a safer target.
  • For example, a person angry at their boss may come home and take it out on their family instead.
  • Freudian theory examines displacement as a defense mechanism to manage anxiety and conflict.

Physics

  • In physics, displacement is a vector quantity that reflects the shortest distance from an object's initial position to its final position.
  • It's key in understanding motion, indicating both direction and distance moved.
  • Displacement can differ from distance traveled when an object returns to its starting point; the distance can be much greater than the displacement.

Social Studies

  • Displacement is often discussed in the context of refugees and displaced persons who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict or natural disasters.
  • The concept can also refer to populations moving due to urbanization or environmental changes.
  • Understanding displacement helps address global humanitarian issues by highlighting the needs of affected individuals and communities.

Literature

  • Displacement as a theme appears in various literary works, where characters often find themselves in unfamiliar environments.
  • Writers explore emotional displacement when characters feel out of sync with their surroundings, reflecting deeper societal issues.
  • The experiences of displaced characters resonate in narratives about journeys, identity, and belonging.

Origin of 'displacement'

Main points about word origin

  • The word originates from the Latin 'displacere', meaning 'to remove or to drive away'.
  • It has been used in the English language since the late 14th century.
  • The prefix 'dis-' indicates a reversal or negation, while 'placement' refers to positioning.

The word 'displacement' originated from the Latin word 'displacere', which means 'to displease'. In the 17th century, it started to be used in the context of physics to refer to the moving of something from its place. Over time, the term expanded to other fields like geology and psychology, where it denotes different types of movements or transfers.

See also: anyplace, displace, everyplace, misplace, misplacement, misplacing, place, placed, placeholders, placement, placements, places, placing, placings, replace, someplace.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,372, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.