ENGLISH
REFERENCE

displacement

n.
US //dɪsˈpɫeɪsmənt// UK //dɪsplˈeɪsmənt// dis·place·ment
  1. 1 forced relocation (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of forcing people or things to leave their usual place or home.

    the removal of someone or something from its usual or proper place, often referring to populations forced to flee due to conflict.

    Example

    The war led to the displacement of thousands of families from the border region.

    Example

    Economic shifts in the city centre have caused the gradual displacement of long-term residents by high-income professionals.
  2. 2 physics: distance and direction (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the distance and direction an object has moved from its starting point.

    a vector quantity representing the change in position of an object, defined by both magnitude and direction.

    Example

    The car drove ten miles, but its total displacement from the house was only two miles east.

    Example

    In classical mechanics, displacement is distinguished from distance by its requirement for a specific directional vector relative to the origin.
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 fluid volume (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    the amount of liquid that is pushed aside when an object is put into it.

    the volume or weight of a fluid displaced by a floating or submerged body, used to determine buoyancy or ship size.

    Example

    The ship has a displacement of over 50,000 tons when fully loaded.

    Example

    Archimedes' principle states that the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displacement it causes.
  2. 4 psychology: shifting feelings (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Technical Medicine

    moving your feelings about one person or thing onto someone else.

    an unconscious defence mechanism where the mind redirects emotions from a dangerous or unacceptable target to a safe one.

    Example

    Shouting at his friend after a bad day at work was a clear case of displacement.

    Example

    The patient exhibited displacement by venting his frustrations with his employer onto the nursing staff during his recovery.
  3. 5 engine size (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the total volume of the cylinders in an engine.

    the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement.

    Example

    The motorcycle has a small engine displacement, making it very fuel-efficient.

    Example

    High-performance sports cars often feature larger engine displacements to achieve greater torque and horsepower at lower RPMs.
  4. 6 linguistics: abstract reference (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Academic Technical

    the ability of language to talk about things that are not here or now.

    the capability of a communication system to refer to objects or events that are distant in time or space.

    Example

    Human language has displacement, allowing us to talk about the past and the future.

    Example

    Unlike most animal communication, human speech exhibits displacement, enabling the discussion of hypothetical scenarios and historical events.

Origin

From French déplacement. Morphologically displace + -ment.

© 2026 English Reference