# elasticity

/ˌiˌɫæsˈtɪsəti/ (US) · /ɪlɑːstˈɪsɪti/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/elasticity
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

the ability of something to stretch and then return to its original shape. It can also describe how much one thing changes when another thing changes, like how prices affect sales.

For teachers: the ability of an object or material to resume its normal shape after being stretched or compressed. In broader contexts, it refers to the degree to which a variable changes in response to another variable.

## Examples

- The rubber band lost its elasticity after being stretched too far.
- Economists study the price elasticity of demand to see how much consumers change their habits when costs rise.
- The structural integrity of the bridge depends on the elasticity of its steel cables, which must withstand significant tension without suffering permanent deformation or catastrophic failure.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable in its physical sense; often used with 'of' to describe a specific relationship in economics ('elasticity of demand').

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