What does "displacement" mean?
The act of displacing, or the state of being displaced; a putting out of place.
Displacement
/dɪsˈpleɪsmɪnt/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of displacing, or the state of being displaced; a putting out of place.
- Grammar: displacement is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: shift, agency, alienation, amotion.
- Useful contrasts: icelandic setja, acknowledgement, be situated in.
- Usage evidence: The Displacement of the idea that facts and evidence matter, by the idea that everything boils down to subjective interests and perspectives is — second only to American political campaigns — the most prominent and pernicious manifestation of anti-intellectualism in our time.
How to use "displacement"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "displacement" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "displacement" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "displacement" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "displacement" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "displacement" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "shift" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "displacement", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of displacing, or the state of being displaced; a putting out of place.
"Unnecessary displacement of funds."
- 2 act of taking the place of another especially using underhanded tactics wordnet
- 3 The weight of a ship or other floating vessel, traditionally measured or calculated by finding the volume of the vessel below the waterline when afloat, the weight of the displaced liquid being equal to that of the whole displacing body.
- 4 act of removing from office or employment wordnet
- 5 The process of extracting soluble substances from organic material and the like, whereby a quantity of saturated solvent is displaced, or removed, for another quantity of the solvent. dated
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 to move something from its natural environment wordnet
- 7 Moving the target to avoid an attack; dodging.
- 8 the act of uniform movement wordnet
- 9 A vector quantity which denotes distance with a directional component.
- 10 an event in which something is displaced without rotation wordnet
- 11 The capability of a communication system to refer to things that are not present (that existed or will exist at another time, or that exist at another location).
- 12 (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that transfers affect or reaction from the original object to some more acceptable one wordnet
- 13 The transfer of feelings or emotions from their intended recipient to another object or person.
- 14 (chemistry) a reaction in which an elementary substance displaces and sets free a constituent element from a compound wordnet
- 15 The amount of liquid displaced by a submerged object.
- 16 The transfer of electricity along tubes of induction and thereby polarizing a dielectric.
- 17 Ellipsis of engine displacement. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Antonyms
Example
"The Displacement of the idea that facts and evidence matter, by the idea that everything boils down to subjective interests and perspectives is — second only to American political campaigns — the most prominent and pernicious manifestation of anti-intellectualism in our time."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "displacement"?
Common synonyms include: shift, agency, alienation, amotion, anabolism, autism.
How do you use "displacement" in a sentence?
The Displacement of the idea that facts and evidence matter, by the idea that everything boils down to subjective interests and perspectives is — second only to American political campaigns — the most prominent and pernicious manifestation of anti-intellectualism in our time.
How do you pronounce "displacement"?
Pronounced /dɪsˈpleɪsmɪnt/.
Etymology
From French déplacement. Morphologically displace + -ment.