1. The classic deforming of a dielectric material when it is stressed by an electric field.
2. A form of elastic deformation of a dielectric induced by an electric field, associated with those components of strain that are independent of reversal of field direction, in contrast to the piezoelectric effect.
3. The change in dimensions which occurs in some dielectric materials when they are placed in an electric field.
4. An activity similar to piezoelectricity, but electrostrictive ceramics expand according to the square of the voltage whereas piezoelectric materials expand linearly.

Electrostrictive materials present less hysteresis (delayed response) than piezoelectric materials, but they are difficult to use at very low voltages.

A transducer (any instrument; such as, a microphone or electric motor, that converts one form of energy into another) which depends on the production of an elastic strain in certain symmetric crystals when an electric field is applied, or, conversely, which produces a voltage when the crystal is deformed.