Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
zero-sum game
noun
/ˌziːroʊ sʌm ɡeɪm/
Definition
A situation in which one participant’s gain or loss is exactly balanced by the losses or gains of other participants.
Examples
- In competitive sports, many matches can be seen as a zero-sum game where one team’s victory is another’s defeat.
- The negotiations turned into a zero-sum game, with both sides refusing to make concessions.
Meaning
In a zero-sum game, the total wealth or benefit remains constant, and any advantage gained by one individual comes at the expense of another.
Synonyms
- competitive situation
- adversarial scenario
- win-lose situation
