Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

entropy

Noun

/ˈɛntrəpi/

Definition

A measure of the degree of disorder or randomness in a system.

Examples

The entropy of the universe tends to increase over time.
Heating a solid substance can increase its entropy as it transforms into a liquid.
In information theory, entropy measures the uncertainty involved in predicting the value of a random variable.

Meaning

In the context of thermodynamics, entropy is often associated with the amount of energy in a physical system that is not available to do work. It signifies the level of unpredictability or chaos within that system.