avmattning

Avmattning is a Swedish term used to describe the process of slowing down, diminishing, or attenuating a characteristic or process. The word combines prefixal meaning of reduction with a root related to dulling or flattening, and it is used across several domains to denote a gradual decrease rather than a sudden change.

In physics and engineering, avmattning refers to damping or attenuation. It describes how the amplitude of a moving or oscillating system decreases over time due to friction, resistance, or other dissipative effects. Examples include a swinging pendulum that gradually comes to rest, or a vibrating mechanical structure whose motion is reduced by material damping. In signal processing, avmattning describes the decay of a signal’s strength, such as the diminishing envelope of a waveform in a noisy environment.

In economics and everyday language, avmattning is used to denote a slowdown or easing of activity. For example, it can describe slower economic growth, reduced consumer demand, or a gradual reduction in investment activity. The term communicates a shift toward lower intensity rather than an abrupt change.

In summary, avmattning is a versatile term for gradual reduction in speed, amplitude, or intensity across technical and non-technical contexts, often implying a natural or expected decline over time. See also damping, attenuation, deceleration.