zero-sum
adjective
Did you know?
Does game theory sound like fun? It can be—if you are a mathematician or economist who needs to analyze a competitive situation in which the outcome is determined by the choices of the players and chance. Game theory was introduced by mathematician John von Neumann and economist Oskar Morgenstern in their 1944 book The Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. In game theory, a zero-sum game is one, such as chess or checkers, where each player has a clear purpose that is completely opposed to that of the opponent. In economics, a situation is zero-sum if the gains of one party are exactly balanced by the losses of another and no net gain or loss is created; however, such situations in real life are rare.
Examples of zero-sum in a Sentence
John Werner, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Unlike partisan politics, trade wars aren’t zero-sum.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
Will these deals focus on equalizing tariff rates – a process that many, if not most, of the affected countries seem ready to undertake?
Or will new, zero-sum U.S. trade rules apply?
—Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2025
Automation doesn’t have to be zero-sum—if implemented thoughtfully, perhaps robots can make work easier, more efficient, and more fun, too.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero-sum
Cite this Entry
“Zero-sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zero-sum. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
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