resilience

[ ri-zil-yuhns, -zil-ee-uhns ]

noun

1. the power or ability of a material to return to its original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity.
2. the ability of a person to adjust to or recover readily from illness, adversity, major life changes, etc.; buoyancy.
3. the ability of a system or organization to respond to or recover readily from a crisis, disruptive process, etc.:

   Cities can build resilience to climate change by investing in infrastructure.

Other Words From

• non·re·sil·i·ence noun
• non·re·sil·i·en·cy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of resilience¹

First recorded in 1620–30; resili(ent) + -ence

Example Sentences

The findings, which appear in Nature, reveal the surprising adaptability and resilience of the intestine to perturbations and highlight the importance of considering how cell processes are regulated and vary across different parts of a tissue or organ.

From Science Daily

The intestine also showed signs of resilience.

From Science Daily

The study stresses the necessity of a holistic approach to coastal resilience that addresses the full spectrum of climate-related hazards.

From Science Daily

"By including a wider range of climate hazards in resilience strategies, we can better protect our communities from the compounded effects of sea level rise and extreme weather."

From Science Daily

"Of course, subsequent environmental exposures are key, just as in utero environment is important. Fortunately, the brain is exceptionally adaptable, and we want to understand the cognitive, behavioral, and sex-dependent factors associated with both risk and resilience in order to intervene early and maintain intact memory function as we age."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• flexibility