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 device’s temperature, oscillation, mode, and timer can be controlled on the convenient LED display panel. —Clara McMahon, People.com, 30 Jan. 2025

For running in particular, the Apple Watch Series 10, the Galaxy Watch 7, and the Pixel Watch 3 all capture advanced form metrics like ground contact time, power, and vertical oscillation. —PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025

These hypothetical particles are even lighter than the tiniest WIMP and could possibly be detected via oscillations in their waveforms. —Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2024

While there could be other explanations for the mysterious X-ray patterns, such as oscillations in the black hole’s corona, those are less understood. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Jan. 2025

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