resilience
noun
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Using Resilience Outside of Physics
In physics, resilience is the ability of an elastic material (such as rubber or animal tissue) to absorb energy (such as from a blow) and release that energy as it springs back to its original shape. The recovery that occurs in this phenomenon can be viewed as analogous to a person's ability to bounce back after a jarring setback. The word resilience derives from the present participle of the Latin verb resilire, meaning "to jump back" or "to recoil." The base of resilire is salire, a verb meaning "to leap" that also pops up in the etymologies of such sprightly words as sally and somersault.
Examples of resilience in a Sentence
Susan Richardson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994
He squeezed the rubber with a clamp and then released it—demonstrating with this painfully simple experiment that the material lost its resilience and therefore its ability to flex rapidly enough to protect the rocket joint from tumultuous hot gases.
—James Gleick, New York Times Book Review, 13 Nov. 1988
With amazing resilience the two tribes pulled together and set out to found a new town farther up the river.
—Carolyn Gilman, American Indian Art Magazine, Spring 1988
It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment.
—Bram Stoker, Dracula, 1897
The rescue workers showed remarkable resilience in dealing with the difficult conditions.
Cold temperatures caused the material to lose resilience.
Adam Bell
april 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
The islanders, in turn, have grown to see the inn as integral to their cultural and economic resilience.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
According to behavioral scientist and health psychologist Deepika Chopra, who wrote a book called The Power of Real Optimism, optimism is a powerful tool that actually contributes to curiosity and resilience.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 2 Apr. 2026
However, leadership has clarified that the Fund’s mission now places greater emphasis on national growth, infrastructure development, and community resilience.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for resilience
Cite this Entry
“Resilience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilience. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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