resilience

noun

re·​sil·​ience ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s How to pronounce resilience (audio)
1
: the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress
2
: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

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Using Resilience Outside of Physics

In physics, resilience is the ability of an elastic material (such as rubber or animal tissue) to absorb energy (such as from a blow) and release that energy as it springs back to its original shape. The recovery that occurs in this phenomenon can be viewed as analogous to a person's ability to bounce back after a jarring setback. The word resilience derives from the present participle of the Latin verb resilire, meaning "to jump back" or "to recoil." The base of resilire is salire, a verb meaning "to leap" that also pops up in the etymologies of such sprightly words as sally and somersault.

Examples of resilience in a Sentence

… the concert remained a remarkable tribute to Dylan's resilience and continued relevance. Susan Richardson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994
He squeezed the rubber with a clamp and then released it—demonstrating with this painfully simple experiment that the material lost its resilience and therefore its ability to flex rapidly enough to protect the rocket joint from tumultuous hot gases. James Gleick, New York Times Book Review, 13 Nov. 1988
With amazing resilience the two tribes pulled together and set out to found a new town farther up the river. Carolyn Gilman, American Indian Art Magazine, Spring 1988
It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment. Bram Stoker, Dracula, 1897
The rescue workers showed remarkable resilience in dealing with the difficult conditions. Cold temperatures caused the material to lose resilience.
Recent Examples on the Web Marginal gains amid broader market caution Chinese markets showed resilience, with the CSI 300 rising 0.57%, led by gains in real estate stocks. Bybrooke Seipel, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024 The protagonist’s extraordinary journey gives readers plenty of space to think about the ways that suffering lives in our own bodies, and the nature of human resilience. Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024 This question reveals the candidate’s adaptability, resilience and problem-solving skills. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Dalla Ragione hopes that those humble stalks, in turn, with their age-old resilience, will point toward a sustainable future for Italian tree fruits in a changing climate. Mark Schapiro, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for resilience 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'resilience.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see resilient

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of resilience was in 1807

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Dictionary Entries Near resilience

Cite this Entry

“Resilience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilience. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

resilience

noun
re·​sil·​ience ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s How to pronounce resilience (audio)
1
: the ability of a body to regain its original size and shape after being compressed, bent, or stretched : elasticity
2
: the ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune or change

Medical Definition

resilience

noun
re·​sil·​ience ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s How to pronounce resilience (audio)
1
: the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress
2
: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change
emotional resilience
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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