Displaced

/dɪsˈpleɪst/

verbmedium📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To remove from a position, usually by force or influence; to take the place of something or someone.

/dɪsˈpleɪst/

verbneutralmedium
General

To force someone or something from their usual place or position.

The heavy rain displaced the river's banks.

💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite toy gets moved from your bed to the bookshelf, or a new game comes along that is better than the one you were playing, that toy or old game is displaced.

👶 For kids: To make something move from where it is.

More Examples

2

Newer models are displacing the old ones in the market.

3

The earthquake displaced many families from their homes.

How It's Used

Politics

"The war displaced thousands of refugees."

Technology

"New technologies are displacing older methods."

2

Removed or moved from the usual or proper place; forced out of one's home or usual environment.

/dɪsˈpleɪst/

adjectiveneutralmedium
General

Moved or forced to move from a place or position.

The displaced workers were struggling to find new jobs.

💡 Simply: Imagine you have to move from your house because there's a problem or if you are forced out of your usual place; you're displaced.

👶 For kids: Moved away from where you usually live or are.

More Examples

2

The earthquake resulted in a large number of displaced families.

3

She felt displaced in the new school.

How It's Used

Humanitarian

"The displaced population struggled to find food and shelter."

Geology

"The displaced rock showed evidence of a fault line."

Tip:Think of the feeling of being out of your comfort zone; you are displaced from your usual state.

Idioms & expressions

displaced person

A person who has been forced to leave their home, typically because of war, persecution, or natural disaster.

"The UN provided aid to displaced persons."

From Middle English *displacen*, from Old French *desplacier* ('to move from a place'), from *des-* ('away') + *placier* ('to place').

Historically used in legal and military contexts to describe individuals or forces moved from their established location.

Memory tip

Think of a game where you need to physically move objects to a new place to solve a puzzle – that's displacing.

Word Origin

LanguageOld French
Original meaning

"to move from a place"

Base: displace
displaced peopledisplaced persondisplaced familiesdisplaced workersdisplaced from their homesdisplaced by violence

Common misspellings

desplaceddisplacced

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written