zero-sum
adjective
Did you know?
Does game theory sound like fun? It can be—if you are a mathematician or economist who needs to analyze a competitive situation in which the outcome is determined by the choices of the players and chance. Game theory was introduced by mathematician John von Neumann and economist Oskar Morgenstern in their 1944 book The Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. In game theory, a zero-sum game is one, such as chess or checkers, where each player has a clear purpose that is completely opposed to that of the opponent. In economics, a situation is zero-sum if the gains of one party are exactly balanced by the losses of another and no net gain or loss is created; however, such situations in real life are rare.
Examples of zero-sum in a Sentence
Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2025
The book described a responsible capitalism free of zero-sum fatalism, and visionary enough to embrace a modernizing global north and south (and racially equitable United States).
—New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
As the world’s two largest economies, our competition often seems zero-sum: One nation’s gain appears to be the other’s loss.
—Logan Spinner, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
Unsurprisingly, the promise of holding the presidential office inspires intense, zero-sum competition between South Korea’s two main political parties.
—Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero-sum
Cite this Entry
“Zero-sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zero-sum. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share