disequilibriumn.

Etymology: < dis- prefix 2d + equilibrium n.Previous versions of the OED give the stress as: disequiˈlibrium.

1. Absence or destruction of equilibrium.

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the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > inequality > [noun] > imbalance

disequilibrium1840

overbalance1851

disbalancement1866

disequilibration1891

imbalance1898

out of balance1933

1840 Aeolus 12 A finely poised lever, to which the weight of a fly is enough to occasion a disequilibrium.

1882 A. Elwes tr. H. C. de B. Capello & R. Ivens From Benguella to Yacca II. i. 7 The effect of this dis-equilibrium of nature.

2. spec. in Economics.

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1923 J. M. Keynes Tract Monetary Reform iv. 160 When the disequilibrium was purely seasonal, this was an unqualified advantage.

1923 J. M. Keynes Tract Monetary Reform iv. 161 The post-war method is a most rapid and powerful corrective of real disequilibria in the balance of international payments.

1948 G. Crowther Outl. Money (ed. 2) x. 352 Any excess of Saving over Investment produces disequilibrium—a shortage of purchasing power to buy the products of industry, falling prices and unemployment.

1963 Economist 5 Oct. 57/1 The kind of balance of payments disequilibria that might occur.

Derivatives

disequiˈlibrate v.

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the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > inequality > [verb (transitive)] > unbalance

disequilibrize1889

disequilibrate1891

disbalance-

1891 J. M. Guyan Educ. & Heredity Pref. 23 The disequilibrated are forever lost to humanity.

disequiliˈbration n.

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