ENGLISH
REFERENCE

emergent

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈimɝdʒənt// UK //ɪmˈɜːdʒənt// emer·gent

adj. describing something that is just starting to exist or appear. It is often used for new technologies, ideas, or patterns that come from a group of smaller parts.

adj. describing properties or behaviours that arise from the collective interaction of simpler parts, yet are not present in the parts themselves. Often refers to newly appearing entities or developing markets.


SIMPLE

The emergent technology could change how we use the internet.

CONTEXTUAL

The study focuses on emergent patterns of social behaviour that appear when large groups of people use the same app.

COMPLEX

In biological systems, consciousness is often viewed as an emergent property of complex neural networks rather than a characteristic of individual neurons.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin ēmergēns, present participle of ēmergō. The medical sense is a back-formation from emergency.

Usage

Commonly used in academic and scientific contexts; often precedes the noun it modifies.

Pitfall

the emergency technologythe emergent technologyLearners often confuse 'emergent' (starting to appear) with 'emergency' (a dangerous situation requiring immediate action).

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