hysteresis: (hîs´te-rê´sîs) noun, plural hystereses (-sêz)
The lagging of an effect behind its cause, as when the change in magnetism of a body lags behind changes in the magnetic field. [Greek husterêsis, a shortcoming, from husterein, to come late, from husteros, late.]

Part of the definitions are taken from:

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from InfoSoft International, Inc. All rights reserved.