hysteresis
noun
hys·ter·e·sis ˌhi-stə-ˈrē-səs 
plural hystereses ˌhi-stə-ˈrē-ˌsēz
physics : a retardation of an effect when the forces acting upon a body are changed (as if from viscosity or internal friction)
all manometers must be tested for hysteresis as well as for sensitivity and natural frequency
H. D. Green
H. D. Green especially : a lagging in the values of resulting magnetization in a magnetic material (such as iron) due to a changing magnetizing force
hysteretic
ˌhi-stə-ˈre-tik
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Economists borrowed the term hysteresis from the physics of magnetism. Jon Hilsenrath, WSJ, 25 Feb. 2021 For many years, economists have looked for evidence of hysteresis in labor markets. Jon Hilsenrath, WSJ, 25 Feb. 2021 But their data suggested that hysteresis was still happening. Siobhan Roberts, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2020 There’s some heated (so to speak) debate about what really causes hysteresis. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 22 Apr. 2020 These objects become permanently magnetized, through a process called hysteresis. Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 7 Dec. 2019 Paleoclimatologists said this hysteresis might explain other puzzles about the paleoclimate record. Natalie Wolchover, WIRED, 3 Mar. 2019 See More
Jon Hilsenrath, WSJ, 25 Feb. 2021 For many years, economists have looked for evidence of hysteresis in labor markets. Jon Hilsenrath, WSJ, 25 Feb. 2021 But their data suggested that hysteresis was still happening. Siobhan Roberts, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2020 There’s some heated (so to speak) debate about what really causes hysteresis. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 22 Apr. 2020 These objects become permanently magnetized, through a process called hysteresis. Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 7 Dec. 2019 Paleoclimatologists said this hysteresis might explain other puzzles about the paleoclimate record. Natalie Wolchover, WIRED, 3 Mar. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek hysterēsis shortcoming, from hysterein to be late, fall short, from hysteros later — more at out entry 1
First Known Use
1881, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
hysteresis
noun
hys·ter·e·sis ˌhis-tə-ˈrē-səs
plural hystereses -ˌsēz
1
: the lagging of a physical effect on a body behind its cause (as behind changed forces and conditions)
all manometers must be tested for hysteresis as well as for sensitivity and natural frequency H. D. Green
H. D. Green2
a
: the influence of the previous history or treatment of a body on its subsequent response to a given force or changed condition
a study has been made of the phenomenon of rennet hysteresis, in which the time of coagulation of heated milk is progressively greater with increase in the time interval between heating and addition of rennet J. S. Fruton
J. S. Fruton b
: the changed response of a body that results from this influence