metastable equilibrium

metastable equilibrium

[¦med·ə′stā·bəl ‚ē·kwə′lib·rē·əm] (physics) A condition in which a system returns to equilibrium after small (but not large) displacements; it may be represented by a ball resting in a small depression on top of a hill. (physical chemistry) A state of pseudo-equilibrium having higher free energy than the true equilibrium state.