antifragility means the ability of a system to benefit and grow from a certain class of random events, errors, and volatility. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 82 out of 100.
Why “antifragility” is a great word
ANTIFRAGILITY — [Noun] The property of a system that improves, gains capability, or thrives when exposed to stressors, volatility, or random shocks. Coined in 2012 by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, from the English prefix anti- ("against, opposite of") + fragility (the quality of being fragile or easily broken). Unlike "resilience" (which denotes a return to an original state) or "robustness" (which describes mere endurance without change), antifragility demands an active, net gain from disorder. It is the muscle fiber rebuilding thicker after being torn, the immune system educated by a minor infection, and the forest floor enriched by a controlled burn—a quiet testament that for some systems, the very shocks we fear are the sole source of becoming.
Etymology
Coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in 2012, from anti- + fragility.
noun
- The ability of a system to benefit and grow from a certain class of random events, errors, and volatility.