noun

homeostasis

hoh-mee-oh-STAY-sis

Homeostasis (noun) means the process by which a living body keeps its internal conditions, such as temperature, water level and blood chemistry, steady despite changes outside it. Example: “Sweating and shivering are both ways the body maintains homeostasis.”

noun

The process by which a living body keeps its internal conditions, such as temperature, water level and blood chemistry, steady despite changes outside it.

"Sweating and shivering are both ways the body maintains homeostasis."

"Insulin plays a central role in the homeostasis of blood glucose."

figurative A tendency in any system, such as an economy, an ecosystem or an organisation, to return to a stable state after being disturbed.

"The team drifted back to its old routines, a kind of organisational homeostasis."

How to Use Homeostasis

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHow your body keeps everything inside it steady, like temperature and water.

When to use it

Technical; standard in biology, medicine and psychology, and increasingly used loosely for any self-correcting system.

Memory tip

The related adjective is homeostatic. Hemostasis, with no o after the m, is a different word meaning the stopping of bleeding.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

homoeostasis homeostatic hemostasis

Common pairings

maintain homeostasis disrupt homeostasis glucose homeostasis homeostatic mechanism

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Sweating and shivering are both ways the body maintains _____.

Etymology

From Greek homoios meaning 'similar' and stasis meaning 'standing still'.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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internal balance equilibrium self-regulation steady state stability

Related Words

balance stability equilibrium volatility constancy poise

Rhymes for homeostasis

basis oasis stasis emphasis psoriasis

See all rhymes for homeostasis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a simple example of homeostasis?

Body temperature. If you get too hot you sweat, which cools you down; if you get too cold you shiver, which warms you up. Either way the body is pulled back to around 37C.

What is the difference between homeostasis and equilibrium?

Equilibrium is a state of balance that can be entirely passive. Homeostasis is active: the body constantly senses drift and spends energy correcting it, which is why it works even when conditions outside keep changing.

Is homeostasis the same as metabolism?

No. Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that release and use energy. Homeostasis is the regulation that keeps conditions steady, and it uses the energy metabolism provides.

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