displacement
4 synonyms and 1 antonyms for displacement, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The forced movement of people from their homes, especially by war, persecution, disaster or development.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The forced movement of people from their homes, especially by war, persecution, disaster or development.
“The floods caused the displacement of half a million people.”
2. noun
In physics, how far and in what direction an object has moved from its starting point, measured as a straight line rather than along the path travelled.
“She ran a full lap of the track, so her distance was 400 m but her displacement was zero.”
Opposites
How to Use Displacement
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral; the humanitarian and scientific senses are both standard.
Etymology
From displace, itself from French desplacer, formed from des- 'away' and place.
Full origin of displacement →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between distance and displacement?
Distance is the total length of the path travelled and is never negative. Displacement is the straight line from start to finish, with a direction attached, so a return journey gives a large distance but zero displacement.
What is engine displacement?
It is the total volume swept by all the pistons in one full cycle, quoted in litres or cubic centimetres. Larger displacement generally means more air and fuel per cycle, so more power, but also higher fuel use and, in many countries, higher tax.
What is the difference between a refugee and an internally displaced person?
A refugee has crossed an international border and gained protection under refugee law. An internally displaced person has been forced from home but remains inside their own country, so they stay under that government's jurisdiction and have fewer international protections.