ergodic

American  

[ur-god-ik] / ɜrˈgɒd ɪk /

adjective

Mathematics, Statistics.

1. of or relating to the condition that, in an interval of sufficient duration, a system will return to states that are closely similar to previous ones: the assumption of such a condition underlies statistical methods used in modern dynamics and atomic theory.

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Other Word Forms

• ergodicity noun

Etymology

Origin of ergodic

1925–30; erg(o)- ¹ + Greek ( h ) od ( ós ) way, road + -ic

Example Sentences

But the ergodic theory revealed hidden universal truth, enabling Dr. Margulis to make quick progress on some previously intractable problems.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2020

For example, although academics discuss "ergodic literature" where a book's narrative is created in part by the reader, the average reader would be more familiar with choose-your-own-adventure books, or early PC text adventure games.

From The Verge • Feb. 9, 2016

A buzzword from the emergent critical vocabulary of "ergodic" literature may help: one doesn't read Sinclair so much as "navigate" him.

From The Guardian • Jul. 15, 2011

Dr. Lindenstrauss, the first Israeli mathematician to receive a Fields, applied ergodic theory, a field developed to describe the motion of dynamical systems like billiards balls, to problems in number theory.

From New York Times • Aug. 23, 2010

His mathematical theories�e.g., set theory, ergodic theory�mean little to most laymen, but many of them have a way of showing up in unexpected and important places.

From Time Magazine Archive