What does "ergodic" mean?
Of or relating to certain systems that, given enough time, will eventually return to a previously experienced state.
Ergodic
/ɜɹˈɡɑdɪk/ adj
adj ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Of or relating to certain systems that, given enough time, will eventually return to a previously experienced state.
- Grammar: ergodic is listed as adj.
- Usage evidence: “The real world is not ergodic,” he says. “If I jump out of the window, that's it–it's not, like, a mistake I will learn from.”
How to use "ergodic"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ergodic" 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 "ergodic" 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 "ergodic" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ergodic" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ergodic" is acting as adj in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ergodic", 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
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to certain systems that, given enough time, will eventually return to a previously experienced state.
"“The real world is not ergodic,” he says. “If I jump out of the window, that's it–it's not, like, a mistake I will learn from.”"
- 2 Of or relating to a process in which every sequence or sample of sufficient size is equally representative of the whole.
- 3 Of or relating to a literary work that requires nontrivial effort on the reader's part to traverse.
"Therefore this chapter moves into two directions, cybertextually expanding (and reorganizing) the field of architextuality, and specifying the ergodic variety within it."
Adjective
- 1 positive recurrent aperiodic state of stochastic systems; tending in probability to a limiting form that is independent of the initial conditions wordnet
Example
"“The real world is not ergodic,” he says. “If I jump out of the window, that's it–it's not, like, a mistake I will learn from.”"
Common questions
How do you use "ergodic" in a sentence?
“The real world is not ergodic,” he says. “If I jump out of the window, that's it–it's not, like, a mistake I will learn from.”
How do you pronounce "ergodic"?
Pronounced /ɜɹˈɡɑdɪk/.
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary ergo- + -ode (+ -ic). The etymological origin is disputed: ἔργον (érgon) + ὁδός (hodós, “way”) versus ἔργον (érgon) + εἶδος (eîdos, “image”).