plasticity
noun
plas·tic·i·ty
pla-ˈsti-sə-tē 
1
: the quality or state of being plastic
especially
: capacity for being molded or altered
2
: the ability to retain a shape attained by pressure deformation
3
: the capacity of organisms with the same genotype to vary in developmental pattern, in phenotype, or in behavior according to varying environmental conditions
4
: the capacity for continuous alteration of the neural pathways and synapses of the living brain and nervous system in response to experience or injury
Examples of plasticity in a Sentence
we chose that type of clay for its greater plasticity
Recent Examples on the Web
Repeated listening to meaningful music cultivates beneficial brain plasticity improving memory and performance.
—
Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
That’s because a coral is biologically programmed to adapt to new conditions — an ability called plasticity — by adjusting its physiology and growth to cope with change within certain bounds.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 Feb. 2025
Levin’s team is working on harnessing that innate plasticity to find solutions for a range of diseases, including birth defects, traumatic injury, cancer, and aging.
—Big Think, 21 Feb. 2025
These findings do not immediately suggest caffeine negatively impacts the brain but instead points to how the drug may induce a temporary neural plasticity that researchers think warrants further investigation.
—New Atlas, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plasticity
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Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
That’s because a coral is biologically programmed to adapt to new conditions — an ability called plasticity — by adjusting its physiology and growth to cope with change within certain bounds.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 Feb. 2025
Levin’s team is working on harnessing that innate plasticity to find solutions for a range of diseases, including birth defects, traumatic injury, cancer, and aging.
—Big Think, 21 Feb. 2025
These findings do not immediately suggest caffeine negatively impacts the brain but instead points to how the drug may induce a temporary neural plasticity that researchers think warrants further investigation.
—New Atlas, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plasticity
Cite this Entry
“Plasticity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plasticity. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plasticity
noun
plas·tic·i·ty
pla-ˈstis-ət-ē
: the quality or state of being plastic
especially
: capacity for being molded or changed in form or shape
Medical Definition
plasticity
noun
plas·tic·i·ty
pla-ˈstis-ət-ē
plural plasticities
1
: the quality or state of being plastic
especially
: capacity for being molded or altered
2
: the ability to retain a shape attained by pressure deformation
3
: the capacity of organisms with the same genotype to vary in developmental pattern, in phenotype, or in behavior according to varying environmental conditions
4
: the capacity for continuous alteration of the neural pathways and synapses of the living brain and nervous system in response to experience or injury that involves the formation of new pathways and synapses and the elimination or modification of existing ones
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