reluctance
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the feeling of not wanting to do something, often because you are worried or disagree with it.
a state of psychological unwillingness or disinclination to perform an action. Often used with the preposition 'to' followed by an infinitive.
Simple“She agreed to help, but her reluctance was clear from the look on her face.”
In context“The board expressed considerable reluctance to approve the merger, citing concerns over long-term debt and cultural compatibility between the two firms.”
UsageCommonly followed by 'to' + infinitive (e.g., reluctance to go) or 'about' + noun (e.g., reluctance about the plan).
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
how much a material resists the flow of magnetic energy.
the property of a magnetic circuit that opposes the passage of magnetic flux, analogous to electrical resistance in a conductor.
Simple“Air has a high reluctance, which makes it difficult for magnetic fields to pass through it.”
In context“Engineers must calculate the total reluctance of the transformer core to ensure the magnetic flux is maintained at efficient levels.”
UsageUsually uncountable in this technical context.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialized term in physics and electrical engineering; most learners only need the 'unwillingness' sense.
Synonymsmagnetic resistanceAntonymspermeance
“Australia’s initial reluctance to join early European criticism of Infantino drew concern from some in the Australian football community.”
From reluct + -ance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.