Hysteresis
noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A property of a system such that an output value is not a strict function of the corresponding input, but also incorporates some lag, delay, or history dependence, and in particular when the response for a decrease in the input variable is different from the response for an increase. For example, a thermostat with a nominal setpoint of 75° might switch the controlled heat source on when the temperature drops below 74°, and off when it rises above 76°. countable, uncountable
- 2 the lagging of an effect behind its cause; especially the phenomenon in which the magnetic induction of a ferromagnetic material lags behind the changing magnetic field wordnet
- 3 Magnetic friction in dynamos, by which every reversal of magnetism in the iron causes dissipation of energy. countable, uncountable
Example
More examples"Not long ago Mr. Marconi invented a telegraphic instrument based upon his discovery that the magnetic hysteresis of iron can be annulled by electric oscillations."
Etymology
Coined by Sir James Alfred Ewing from Ancient Greek ὑστέρησις (hustérēsis, “shortcoming”), from ὑστερέω (husteréō, “I am late, fall short”), from ὕστερος (hústeros, “later”). By surface analysis, hyster- (“higher, outer, latter, next”) + -esis.
Related phrases
More for "hysteresis"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.