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Glite Dictionary
🧩 Complex structure 🔢 Raising to power 🌀 Folding inward 👶 Organ shrinking 📉 Stagnant growth
involution

involution

9.9
A situation where intense internal competition causes little or no overall growth
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnvəˈluːʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : involución
  • The report highlighted the involution that occurred in the industry, resulting in little advancement despite the rise in complexity.

Examples

  • The economic involution of the region led to stagnation, as businesses struggled to grow amidst increased competition.

  • The legacy of Kenya's violent political culture exacerbates the current political involution.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Prosperity had accompanied increased trade and contact with the outside world, not involution.

    Academic text (1992)

  • During times of social involution, communities often face challenges in effectively addressing their needs.

Antonyms

growth
∞ 1.6

An increase in size, number, or importance of something

improvement
619 1.1

A change that makes something better

expansion
241 3.3

An increase in size, amount, or range

How Productive

rapid growth
13 2.8
growth
∞ 1.6
development
357 2.5
involution
  • Specialized
9.9
to plateau
1 5.1
stagnation
19 6.8

Surface Forms

involution singular
involutions plural

Morphology

involution = involute (opaque) = in + volut + ion

The socio-economic sense (intensification without productive development) is an abstract, specialized extension not directly inferable from the morphemes.

Etymology

Involution comes from the Latin parts in- 'in' and volvere 'to roll', which gives the image of 'turning inward' rather than growing outward. That's why people use involution for a social or economic process that becomes more inward and competitive without real outward growth.