Word
homeostasis
Phoneticshome·osta·sis
/ˌhoʊmioʊˈsteɪsəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the body's way of keeping its internal environment stable and healthy. It is how your body stays at the right temperature, pH, and water level even when the outside world changes.
n. the physiological process by which an organism maintains internal stability and equilibrium in response to external changes. Often used in biological and medical contexts to describe regulatory mechanisms.
Examples
“Sweating is one way the body maintains homeostasis.”
“When you exercise in the heat, your body uses homeostasis to prevent your internal temperature from rising to dangerous levels.”
“The endocrine system plays a critical role in homeostasis by releasing hormones that regulate blood sugar levels and fluid balance throughout the body.”
Examples
simple
“Sweating is one way the body maintains homeostasis.”
contextual
“When you exercise in the heat, your body uses homeostasis to prevent your internal temperature from rising to dangerous levels.”
complex
“The endocrine system plays a critical role in homeostasis by releasing hormones that regulate blood sugar levels and fluid balance throughout the body.”
Real-World Examples
“This tendency is related to homeostasis, the process through which a system maintains a relatively stable internal state.” Etymology
Coined from Ancient Greek ὅμοιος (hómoios, “similar, the same”) + -stasis by Walter Bradford Cannon, from Ancient Greek στάσις (stásis, “standing, state”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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