zero-sum
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Meaning
(of a game or situation) in which a gain for one side or participant must be matched by a loss for the other, so the net change is zero.
relating to or based on the principle that any gain is balanced by an equivalent loss.
Structure
Usage
In a zero-sum game like chess, one player's victory is contingent on the other's defeat.
The negotiators abandoned the zero-sum mentality and sought a mutually beneficial partnership.
Viewing international trade as a zero-sum contest is an outdated and counterproductive perspective.
Etymology
The term 'zero-sum' is a modern compound, first used in the mid-20th century within the field of game theory. It combines 'zero', a word of Arabic origin via Italian representing the concept of nothingness, with 'sum', from Latin denoting a total amount. The literal construction "a total of zero" perfectly encapsulates the core logic: whatever is gained by one party is exactly subtracted from another, resulting in a net change of zero to the total resources or advantage. This metaphor, drawn from arithmetic, elegantly describes competitive interactions in economics, politics, and conflict where one entity's benefit is intrinsically another's loss.
Analysis
- zero: From Italian 'zero', ultimately from Arabic 'ṣifr' meaning 'empty, cipher'. In this compound, it signifies 'nothing' or 'none'. - sum: From Latin 'summa' meaning 'the highest, total, chief point'. In this compound, it signifies 'total amount'.