INVISIBLE HAND Definition & Meaning

invisible hand

[ in-viz-uh-buhl hand ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

(in the economics of Adam Smith) an unseen force or mechanism that guides individuals to unwittingly benefit society through the pursuit of their private interests.

invisible hand

A term used by Adam Smith to describe his belief that individuals seeking their economic self-interest actually benefit society more than they would if they tried to benefit society directly. The statement “ What's good for the country is good for General Motors, and vice versa ” expresses essentially the same belief.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of invisible hand¹

First recorded in 1775–80

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He is seen as this neoliberal, laissez-faire, "invisible hand" theorist, but that’s a caricature of the real Adam Smith.

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"Adam Smith is seen as this neoliberal, laissez-faire, 'invisible hand' theorist, but that’s a caricature. He was much more interested in poor people flourishing and issues of power and empire."

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It said Ms Wadhwa was “the invisible hand behind everything that had taken place.”

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It said that Ms Wadhwa was “the invisible hand behind everything that had taken place.”

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“For a celebrity, an athlete, a musician, to lend their name, their influence to a candidate, they are risking a lot — starting with some amount of trolling in the comment section. It’s not without its sacrifices, so you have to really be motivated to do it on behalf of a candidate,” said Genevieve Roth, founder and president of Invisible Hand, a culture change and strategy agency, who also served as director of creative engagement on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.

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