displacement

/dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/
noun
  1. The act of forcing people to leave their homes, especially because of war, natural disaster, or political reasons.
    • The government is working to prevent the displacement of local communities.
    • Displacement due to climate change is becoming a global issue.
    • The war caused the displacement of millions of families.
  2. The act of moving something from its usual or original position.
    • Engineers measured the displacement of the bridge after the storm.
    • The earthquake caused the displacement of large rocks along the road.
    • The displacement of furniture made the room feel bigger.
  3. The amount of water moved by a ship or boat when floating, used to measure its size or weight.
    • The ship's displacement determines how much cargo it can carry.
    • A small sailboat has a much lower displacement than a cargo ship.
    • The aircraft carrier has a displacement of over 100,000 tons.
  4. In psychology, the transfer of emotions or feelings from the original source to a less threatening target.
    • He kicked the chair in a classic case of displacement after being scolded by his boss.
    • The therapist explained that displacement is a common defense mechanism.
    • Displacement can happen when a person redirects anger toward a safer object.