step change
nounEtymology The concept has been borrowed from mathematics and technology terminology, from step function.
1
A sudden, discontinuous change.
- The report, stark and uncompromising, marks a step change in Europe's own role in pushing for international action to combat climate change, as it will be used in a bid to commit the EU to ambitious new targets for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases.2007 January 10, Michael McCarthy, Stephen Castle, “http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/eu-climate-change-will-transform-the-face-of-the-continent-431491.html”, in The Independent:
- This 'pre-funding' helps smooth payments and avoids step-changes in charges to operators, according to ORR [Office of Rail and Road].2019 November 6, Philip Haigh, “Analysis”, in Rail, page 32:
- Related terms
- paradigm shift, quantum leap, quantum jump