oscillation

noun

os·​cil·​la·​tion ˌä-sə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the action or state of oscillating

stays can be effectively used to prevent oscillations in new bridges

—D. B. Steinman

2

: variation, fluctuation

famines due to excessive storminess and violent oscillations of rain and drought, heat and cold

—Ellsworth Huntington

3

: a flow of electricity changing periodically from a maximum to a minimum

especially : a flow periodically changing direction

4

: a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other

Each oscillation of the pendulum represents one second.

oscillational

ˌä-sə-ˈlā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• change
• fluctuation
• flux
• inconstancy

Examples of oscillation in a Sentence

the continued oscillation of the fan

There has been oscillation between optimism and pessimism among voters.

Recent Examples on the Web

The wild oscillations are in large part the result of furious levels of trading activity for Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) in the lead-up to next week’s presidential election. —Bypaolo Confino, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024

In addition to the long-term oscillations, the ice recorded dozens of shorter, wilder swings. —Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

The internal oscillations have mostly been sending a friendly macro message – consumer cyclicals, banks and industrials performing well. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2024

But Trump’s conduct has been so aberrant for so long that separating genuine deterioration from routine volatility is no easy task—on what basis does one judge oscillations in something without precedent in public life? —Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

oscillation

noun

os·​cil·​la·​tion ˌäs-ə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the action or state of oscillating : vibration

2

: variation sense 1, fluctuation

3

: a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other

Medical Definition

oscillation

noun

os·​cil·​la·​tion ˌäs-ə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the action or state of oscillating

2

: a flow of electricity changing periodically from a maximum to a minimum

especially : a flow periodically changing direction