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flywheel

flywheel
Noun
pl: flywheels

This term describes a device that leverages inertia to stabilize motion. In mechanical engineering, it prevents jerky movements by absorbing energy during peaks and releasing it during troughs, ensuring a smooth, continuous rotation.

In business and organizational contexts, the term is used as a conceptual model for compounding growth. It describes a system where initial hard work builds momentum, eventually reaching a tipping point where the process becomes self-driving and accelerates with decreasing relative effort.

Meanings

Nounflywheel

A mechanism or process that creates a self-sustaining cycle of momentum, where initial effort leads to an accelerating rate of growth or progress.

The company's growth became a flywheel once the network effect took hold.

Examples

The engine uses a heavy flywheel to smooth out the power strokes.

The flywheel stores energy and releases it when the load increases.

Once the flywheel effect kicks in, the growth becomes self sustaining.

Business

The old steam engine had a massive cast iron flywheel.

History

It takes a lot of effort to start the flywheel, but it maintains speed easily.

The mechanical engineer explained how the flywheel prevents the machine from stalling.

Related Words

Last Updated: May 2026Report an Error