buoyancy

[ boi-uhn-see, boo-yuhn-see ]

noun

1. the power to float or rise in a fluid; relative lightness.
2. the power of supporting a body so that it floats; upward pressure exerted by the fluid in which a body is immersed.
3. lightness or resilience of spirit:

   Student well-being and buoyancy are especially important because of the relatively high incidence of depression and suicide.

buoyancy

/ ˈbɔɪənsɪ /

noun

1. the ability to float in a liquid or to rise in a fluid
2. the property of a fluid to exert an upward force (upthrust) on a body that is wholly or partly submerged in it
3. the ability to recover quickly after setbacks; resilience
4. cheerfulness

buoyancy

/ boi′ən-sē /

1. The upward force that a fluid exerts on an object that is less dense than itself. Buoyancy allows a boat to float on water and provides lift for balloons.

buoyancy

1. The force that causes objects to float. According to the principle of Archimedes , when a solid is placed in a fluid (a liquid or a gas ), it is subject to an upward force equal in magnitude to the weight of the fluid it has displaced.

Other Words From

• non·buoyan·cy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of buoyancy¹

First recorded in 1705–15; buoy(ant) + -ancy

Example Sentences

The balloon showed a lack of buoyancy after the failed mission the day before, so Donaldson insisted on taking just one passenger with him this time.

From Salon

Scott said he "knew she had gone" when he saw her buoyancy aid a tethered buoy in the Firth of Forth as it was "the last thing that would have saved her".

From BBC

And in so doing, we lose our enjoyment of the moment, our buoyancy, our joie de vivre.

From Salon

For all the buoyancy and optimism that’s been radiating from the convention stage, there have been warnings too.

From BBC

Shortly after the race, Cockrell, whose USC commencement speech in 2019 went viral for its jagged honesty in addressing her challenges with depression, could hardly muster the words to describe the emotional buoyancy she was experiencing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• elasticity
• resilience