adjective

seismic

/ˈzaɪzmɪk/ · say it: ZYZ·mik

relating to earthquakes or vibrations of the earth

In Science & Nature

In more detail

1. (adjective) relating to or caused by earthquakes

2. (adjective) very great or sudden in effect; causing major changes

Examples

1. The seismic activity in that region has increased this year.
2. The discovery had seismic implications for the scientific community.

How to use seismic

Seismic primarily denotes phenomena related to earthquakes in scientific contexts, but has become widely used metaphorically in business and politics to describe sudden, profound changes or upheaval. The metaphorical sense carries connotations of inevitable, large-scale disruption.

Common phrases

seismic activity
seismic wave
seismic shift
seismic event
seismic impact

Synonyms

earthquake-related · tectonic · earth-shaking · massive · profound

Word family

seismically (adverb) · seismograph (noun) · seismology (noun) · seismologist (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use seismic to mean simply 'significant' or 'important' without the sense of sudden, disruptive change; seismic implies dramatic transformation, not merely relevance.

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