Phrase guide

invisible hand

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A metaphor for the principle that in a free market, an individual pursuing his own self-interest also tends to promote the good of his community as a whole.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: economics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Coined by Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations. Influenced by and echoing earlier use as "the hand of God". See Etymology citations.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: mà invisible — invisible hand
  • Chinese Mandarin: 無形的大手 /无形的大手 — invisible hand
  • Chinese Mandarin: 看不見的手 /看不见的手 — invisible hand
  • Dutch: onzichtbare hand — invisible hand
  • Finnish: näkymätön käsi — invisible hand
  • French: main invisible — invisible hand
  • Georgian: უხილავი ხელი (uxilavi xeli) — invisible hand
  • German: unsichtbare Hand — invisible hand
  • Greek: αόρατο χέρι (aórato chéri) — invisible hand
  • Hungarian: láthatatlan kéz — invisible hand
  • Italian: mano invisibile — invisible hand
  • Polish: niewidzialna ręka rynku — invisible hand
  • Portuguese: mão invisível — invisible hand
  • Russian: неви́димая рука́ (nevídimaja ruká) — invisible hand
  • Spanish: mano invisible — invisible hand
  • Thai: กลไกที่ไม่เห็นประจักษ์ — invisible hand
  • Turkish: görünmez el — invisible hand
  • Vietnamese: bàn tay vô hình — invisible hand