Meanings
nounequilibrium (plural equilibriums or equilibria)
plural equilibriums · plural equilibria · alternative archaic æquilibrium
- The condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced, resulting in no net change.
To Hydroſtaticks belong whatever relates to the Gravities and Equilibria of Liquors; with the Art of weighing Bodies in Water, in order to eſtimate the ſpecifick Gravities.
1733, Philip Miller, “HYDROSTATICKS”, in The Gardeners Dictionary: […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […], →OCLC, column 11 more example
1999, The Matrix, Agent Smith speech Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed and the only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus.
Synonyms: balance, stability · Antonyms: disequilibrium, imbalance, instability
- natural sciencesThe state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero.
1 more example
It now appears that the locomotive did not blow up, as was commonly stated at the time, but that the aeroplane flew so low as to come into contact with the dome of the engine, knocking it off. It was the combination of the impact and the uprush of steam that so disturbed the equilibrium of the raider as to cause it to crash.
1943 May and June, “Notes and News: Effective Locomotive "Ack-Ack" Fire”, in Railway Magazine, page 180Antonyms: disequilibrium, nonequilibrium
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced, resulting in no net change.
nounThe state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero.
Opposite
More synonyms by meaning
nouna stable situation in which forces cancel one another
Opposite
Broader
nouna chemical reaction and its reverse proceed at equal rates
Similar
Broader
nouna sensory system located in structures of the inner ear that registers the orientation of the head
Similar
labyrinthine sensevestibular sensesense of balancesense of equilibrium
Broader
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinaequilībrium
- Englishequilibrium
From Latin aequilībrium, from equal + lībra (“balance”).
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic اِتِّزَان, تَوَازُن
- اِتِّزَان (ittizān)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- تَوَازُن (tawāzun)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- تَعَادُل (taʕādul)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Bulgarian равнове́сие, равновесие
- равнове́сие (ravnovésie)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- равновесие (ravnovesie)mental balance
- равнове́сие (ravnovésie)chemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- равнове́сие (ravnovésie)physics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Catalan equilibri, equilibri
- equilibricondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- equilibriphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Chinese Cantonese 平衡, 平衡
- 平衡condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- 平衡chemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- 平衡physics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Chinese Mandarin 平衡, 平衡
- 平衡 (pínghéng)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- 平衡 (pínghéng)chemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- 平衡 (pínghéng)physics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Czech rovnováha, ekvilibrium
- rovnováhacondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- ekvilibriumcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- rovnováhachemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- ekvilibriumchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- rovnováhaphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
- ekvilibriumphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Danish ligevægt, sindsligevægt
- ligevægtcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- sindsligevægtmental balance
- ligevægtchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- ligevægtphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Dutch evenwicht, evenwicht
- evenwichtcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- evenwichtmental balance
- evenwichtphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Esperanto ekvilibro
- ekvilibrocondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Estonian tasakaal, vaimne tasakaal
- tasakaalcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- vaimne tasakaalmental balance
- tasakaalchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- tasakaalphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Finnish tasapaino, tasapaino
- tasapainocondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- tasapainomental balance
- tasapainochemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- tasapainophysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
French équilibre, équilibre
- équilibrecondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- équilibremental balance
- équilibrechemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- équilibrephysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
German Gleichgewicht, Balance
- Gleichgewichtcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- Balancecondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- Ausgeglichenheitmental balance
- Gleichgewichtchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- Gleichgewichtphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Greek ισορροπία, διανοητική αταραξία
- ισορροπία (isorropía)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- διανοητική αταραξία (dianoïtikí ataraxía)mental balance
- ψυχική αταραξία (psychikí ataraxía)mental balance
- ισορροπία (isorropía)mental balance
- ηρεμία (iremía)mental balance
- ισορροπία (isorropía)chemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- ισορροπία (isorropía)physics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Hebrew אִזּוּן, סימביוזה
- אִזּוּן ('izuun)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- סימביוזה (symbyoza)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- אִזּוּן ('izuun)mental balance
- שִׁוּוּי מִּשְׁקָל (shivvuy mishqal)chemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- אִזּוּן ('izuun)chemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- שִׁוּוּי מִּשְׁקָל (shivvuy mishqal)physics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Hindi साम्यावस्था, संतुलन
- साम्यावस्था (sāmyāvasthā)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- संतुलन (santulan)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Hungarian egyensúly
- egyensúlycondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Indonesian kesetimbangan, keseimbangan
- kesetimbangancondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- keseimbangancondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- ekuilibriumcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- kesetimbanganchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- ekuilibriumchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- kesetimbanganphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
- ekuilibriumphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Irish cothromaíocht
- cothromaíochtcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Italian equilibrio, equilibrio
- equilibriocondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- equilibriochemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- equilibriophysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
- quietephysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Japanese 均衡, バランス
- 均衡 (kinkō)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- バランス (baransu)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- 釣り合い (tsuriai)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- 平衡 (heikō)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- 平衡 (heikō)chemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- 平衡 (heikō)physics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Korean 평형, 평형
- 평형 (pyeonghyeong)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- 평형 (pyeonghyeong)chemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- 평형 (pyeonghyeong)physics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Latin aequilībrium
- aequilībriumcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Latvian līdzsvars
- līdzsvarscondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Lithuanian pusiáusvyra, ekvili̇̀briumas
- pusiáusvyracondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- ekvili̇̀briumascondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- lygsvaracondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- pusiáusvyramental balance
- balánsasmental balance
- rimti̇̀sphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Malay keseimbangan
- keseimbangancondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Māori ōritetanga, tauritenga
- ōritetangacondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- tauritengacondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- tauritengachemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
Norwegian ekvilibrium, likevekt
- ekvilibriumcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- likevektcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- sinnslikevektmental balance
- ekvilibriumchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- likevektchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- ekvilibriumphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
- likevektphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Persian تعادل
- تعادل (ta'âdol)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Polish równowaga, równowaga psychiczna
- równowagacondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- równowaga psychicznamental balance
- równowagachemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- równowagaphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Portuguese equilíbrio, equilíbrio
- equilíbriocondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- equilíbriomental balance
- equilíbriochemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- equilíbriophysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Romanian echilibru, stabilitate
- echilibrucondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- stabilitatecondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- echilibrumental balance
- echilibru mintalmental balance
- ponderațiemental balance
- echilibruchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- echilibruphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
- stabilitatephysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Russian равнове́сие, бала́нс
- равнове́сие (ravnovésije)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- бала́нс (baláns)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- равнове́сие (ravnovésije)mental balance
- равнове́сие (ravnovésije)chemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- равнове́сие (ravnovésije)physics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Scottish Gaelic co-chothrom
- co-chothromcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Spanish equilibrio, equilibrio
- equilibriocondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- equilibriomental balance
- equilibriochemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- equilibriophysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Swedish jämvikt
- jämviktcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Tagalog katiningan, katiningan
- katiningancondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- katininganmental balance
- katininganchemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- katininganphysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Turkish denge, muvazene
- dengecondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- muvazenecondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
- itidalmental balance
- dengechemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- muvazenechemistry: state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same
- dengephysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
- muvazenephysics: state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero
Ukrainian рівнова́га
- рівнова́га (rivnováha)condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Vietnamese cân bằng
- cân bằngcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Welsh cydbwysedd
- cydbwyseddcondition of a system in which competing influences are balanced
Cite this entry
APA
equilibrium. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/equilibrium
MLA
“equilibrium.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/equilibrium. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “equilibrium,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/equilibrium.
Source: equilibrium on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.