Homeostasis
noun /ˌhəʊmɪəʊˈsteɪsɪs/ — The body's tendency to maintain stable internal conditions.
Definition
The tendency of a system — especially the physiological system of higher animals — to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus tending to disturb its normal condition.
Beyond the definition
Homeostasis is biology's most fundamental conservatism — the continuous effort to maintain equilibrium. Temperature, blood sugar, pH — hundreds of variables being continuously corrected back toward optimal range. Illness is often homeostasis under siege. The concept applies beyond biology: all stable systems depend on feedback loops that correct for disturbance.
Origin & history
From Greek homoios (same, similar) + stasis (standing, staying). Coined by American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon in the 1920s to describe the self-regulating processes of the body.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The body's homeostasis maintains blood temperature within a fraction of a degree despite extreme external changes.
The organization had a remarkable homeostasis — it always seemed to return to equilibrium after disruption.
Stress disrupts homeostasis; resilience is the capacity to restore it.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Homeostasis” when the meaning fits your context: The tendency of a system — especially the physiological system of higher animals — to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus tending to disturb its normal condition.
Synonyms
equilibrium, self-regulation, balance, stability
Antonyms
disruption, imbalance, dysregulation
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Runner With Bodily Effort
A runner moves on a path with a conceptual overlay showing their muscles, heart, and lungs working in synchronization.
The synchronized movement of muscles, heart, and lungs illustrates homeostasis. The body is actively maintaining internal stability through the coordinated response of its parts, allowing the runner to maintain a steady performance despite the physiological stimulus of exercise.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Homeostasis" mean?
Homeostasis is noun meaning: The body's tendency to maintain stable internal conditions.. The tendency of a system — especially the physiological system of higher animals — to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus tending to disturb its normal condition.
Where does the word "Homeostasis" come from?
From Greek homoios (same, similar) + stasis (standing, staying). Coined by American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon in the 1920s to describe the self-regulating processes of the body.