hysteresis

H4Y4S1T1E1R1E1S1I1S1
US, UK/ˌhɪstəˈriːsɪs/

noun

A property of a system such that an output value is not a strict function of the corresponding input, but also incorporates some lag, delay, or history dependence, and in particular when the response for a decrease in the input variable is different from the response for an increase. For example, a thermostat with a nominal setpoint of 75° might switch the controlled heat source on when the temperature drops below 74°, and off when it rises above 76°.

OriginAncient Greek ὑστέρησις →
Less commonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounhysteresis (countable and uncountable, plural hystereses)

plural hystereses

  1. countableuncountableA property of a system such that an output value is not a strict function of the corresponding input, but also incorporates some lag, delay, or history dependence, and in particular when the response for a decrease in the input variable is different from the response for an increase. For example, a thermostat with a nominal setpoint of 75° might switch the controlled heat source on when the temperature drops below 74°, and off when it rises above 76°.
  2. countableuncountableMagnetic friction in dynamos, by which every reversal of magnetism in the iron causes dissipation of energy.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὑστέρησις“shortcoming”
  2. Englishhysteresis

Coined by Sir James Alfred Ewing from Ancient Greek ὑστέρησις (hustérēsis, “shortcoming”), from ὑστερέω (husteréō, “I am late, fall short”), from ὕστερος (hústeros, “later”). By surface analysis, hyster- (“higher, outer, latter, next”) + -esis.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bengali হিস্টেরেসিস
  • হিস্টেরেসিস (hisṭereśiś)a property of a system
Catalan histèresi
  • histèresia property of a system
Chinese Mandarin 迟滞现象
  • 迟滞现象 (chí zhì xiàn xiàng)a property of a system
Czech hystereze
  • hysterezea property of a system
Dutch hysterese
  • hysteresea property of a system
Esperanto histerezo
  • histerezoa property of a system
Finnish hystereesi
  • hystereesia property of a system
French hystérèse, hystérésis
  • hystérèsea property of a system
  • hystérésisa property of a system
German Hysterese
  • Hysteresea property of a system
Hungarian hiszterézis
  • hiszterézisa property of a system
Icelandic segulheldni, heldni
  • segulheldnia property of a system
  • heldnia property of a system
Italian isteresi
  • isteresia property of a system
Japanese ヒステリシス, 履歴現象
  • ヒステリシス (hisuterishisu)a property of a system
  • 履歴現象 (rireki genshō)a property of a system
Korean 히스테리시스
  • 히스테리시스 (hiseuterisiseu)a property of a system
Polish histereza
  • histerezaa property of a system
Portuguese histerese
  • histeresea property of a system
Russian гистере́зис
  • гистере́зис (gistɛrɛ́zis)a property of a system
Spanish histéresis
  • histéresisa property of a system
Swedish hysteres
  • hysteresa property of a system
Cite this entry
APA

hysteresis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hysteresis

MLA

“hysteresis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hysteresis. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hysteresis,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hysteresis.

Source: hysteresis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.