zero-sum

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ze·ro-sum

(zîr′ō-sŭm′, zē′rō-)

adj.

Of or relating to a situation in which a gain is offset by an equal loss: "Under the zero-sum budgeting system that governs federal spending, the money for spinal research is likely to be deducted from some other research account" (Daniel S. Greenburg).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

zero-sum

adj

relating to a situation in which one person's loss is equal to the other person's gain

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ze′ro-sum`

adj.

denoting an element of game theory in which the amount lost is always equal to the amount gained: a zero-sum economy.

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References in periodicals archive ?

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that a nuclear shadow was hovering over South Asia, urging the Indian government to move out of a zero-sum mindset so dialogue on Kashmir could begin.

Nuclear shadow hovering over South Asia, PM Imran opines in NYT

Qamar Javed Bajwa rightly said that Pakistan wants peace and integration in the region as it does not believe in zero-sum games.

Dysfunctional SAARC dragging down whole region

The alternative to a "multi-bilateral" trade order may be a world hurtling faster toward zero-sum trade relations, with the long-running tantrum between Beijing and Washington descending into a full-blown economic war.

What the G20 summit told us about the future of world trade

Summary: Currency exchange rates, as we know, is a zero-sum game - one currency has to lose for the other to gain.

Pound pounded, rupee ruptured: Is dollar still golden?

This outcome can be attributed to the zero-sum game that ODM party leader Raila Odinga engaged in when he chose the handshake over standing for truth and fighting the ills of the current regime as the undisputed opposition leader.

Handshake a zero-sum game for ODM

When people perceive themselves as living in a "zero-sum" world, they see a finite number of goodies for which we all compete.

The Next 2O Years of Spirituality & Health: WE WENT BACK TO OUR ROOTS TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT BRING

What was meant to be a mission to find compromise, instantly became a zero-sum game.

The end of politics

China and the United States can compete but should not view each other with a Cold War mentality and should avoid falling into a zero-sum game trap, the Chinese government's top diplomat said, amid deteriorating ties between the superpowers.

China, US Must Avoid Cold War Mentality: Beijing Top Envoy

The crucial economic question, therefore, whether individual jobs they increasingly perform a zero-sum distributive function, whereby the dedication of ever more skill, effort, and technology cannot increase human welfare, given the skill, effort, and technology applied on the other side of the competitive game.

The zero-sum economy

12, history professor Jim Lee said Chiang's zero-sum mindset has led to Taiwan's diplomatic isolation today, according to a UDN report.

Scholar: Chiang Kai-shek is most responsible for Taiwan's diplomatic isolation

"There are forces and leaders in our country who blatantly incite people with hateful rhetoric, who stoke fear of change, [and who] see the world in zero-sum terms so if others are gaining, then everyone else must be losing.