Meaning & use
buoyancy
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Meanings
noununcountablephysicstechnical
The upward force that a liquid or gas exerts on an object, which lets it float or rise.
Grammar: No plural and no article: the buoyancy of the boat.
Patterns
- the buoyancy of something
- buoyancy in water
The life jacket gives the swimmer extra buoyancy.
Salt water has more buoyancy than fresh water, so it is easier to float in the sea.
Divers adjust their buoyancy by adding or releasing air from a vest.
noununcountablefigurative
A cheerful, resilient mood that stays upbeat despite problems; also, a steady, healthy strength in prices or markets.
Grammar: Used figuratively, often with of: the buoyancy of her spirits.
Patterns
- the buoyancy of something
Despite the setbacks, she kept her usual buoyancy.
The buoyancy of the housing market surprised analysts.
His natural buoyancy made him popular in every class.
Common combinations
- positive buoyancy
- A balloon has positive buoyancy and rises.
- negative buoyancy
- The anchor has negative buoyancy and sinks.
- buoyancy aid
- Kayakers must wear a buoyancy aid.
- buoyancy of spirits
- The buoyancy of spirits in the crowd lifted the team.
- provide buoyancy
- The foam panels provide buoyancy for the raft.
Synonyms and how they differ
- floatation
- Floatation refers to the act or state of floating, while buoyancy refers to the force that makes it possible.
- resilience
- Resilience means recovering from difficulty, while buoyancy suggests a lighter, cheerful lift in spirit.
- cheerfulness
- Cheerfulness is simply a happy mood, whereas buoyancy implies staying up despite pressure.
- lightness
- Lightness can describe low weight or a carefree mood but does not explain the upward force like buoyancy does.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: buoyancy or buoy?
buoyancy vs buoy
A buoy is a floating marker in the sea; buoyancy is the force that lets objects float.
Practice
Which sentence uses buoyancy in its scientific sense?
Choose one answer.
Buoyancy of salt water refers to the upward force of a liquid on an object. The other sentences use a mood sense, and a sad song would not suit it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “buoyancy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.