: the act or process of displacing: the state of being displaced
a storm that caused the displacement of thousands of people
2
a
physics: the volume or weight of a fluid (such as water) displaced (see displacesense 2a) by a floating body (such as a ship) of equal weight
b
: the difference between the initial position of something (such as a body or geometric figure) and any later position
c
mechanical engineering: the volume displaced by a piston (as in a pump or an engine) in a single stroke
also, automotive vehicles: the total volume so displaced by all the pistons in an internal combustion engine
3
psychology
a
: the redirection of an emotion or impulse from its original object (such as an idea or person) to another
the displacement of his emotions
b
: the substitution of another form of behavior for what is usual or expected especially when the usual response is nonadaptive or socially inappropriate
called alsodisplacement activity, displacement behavior
The war has caused the displacement of thousands of people. displacements in the Earth's crust soil displacement caused by farming
Recent Examples on the WebHundreds of people from his village are in a makeshift camp, while there are nearly 500,000 people in displacement camps across the country. Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 The war, with its displacement of millions of Ukrainians, the deaths of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and the destruction of cities and villages, has turned Aug. 24 from a welcome day off to a call to action, if not arms. Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2022 Private companies’ share of market value slipped back to 48% last year, but Huang and Veron expect that, because of their higher profitability, private firms will resume their steady displacement of state firms in years to come. Clay Chandler, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2022 Their displacement and destruction of habitats will also cause a population drop, said Kegan Benson, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Forest Service. Mindy Moradi And Sophie Cadran, oregonlive, 9 Aug. 2022 Tens of thousands have now been confined to squalid displacement camps for a decade. Reuters, CNN, 22 July 2022 The agency called Ukraine’s refugee crisis the largest human displacement crisis in the world today. Julie Coleman, Forbes, 5 July 2022 The administration and its allies, however, have said the record border arrivals are part of a broader displacement crisis fueled by pandemic-era economic woes, natural disasters, violence and political repression in parts of Latin America. Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 15 June 2022 Some die even after reaching displacement camps, malnourished beyond aid. Omar Faruk And Cara Anna, Anchorage Daily News, 8 June 2022 See More