instability
Americannoun
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the quality or state of being unstable; lack of stability or firmness.
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the tendency to behave in an unpredictable, changeable, or erratic manner.
emotional instability.
noun
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lack of stability or steadiness
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tendency to variable or unpredictable behaviour
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physics a fast growing disturbance or wave in a plasma
Etymology
Origin of instability
1375–1425; late Middle English instabilite < Latin instabilitās. See in- 3, stability
Explanation
Instability is the quality of not being stable, balanced, or predictable. If you've ever walked out onto a diving board, you've probably noticed its instability — meaning the board bends and bounces as you move. Instability comes from the Middle French word instabilite, meaning "unsteadiness." Instability can refer to objects that are not stable, but it can also describe unpredictable situations or relationships. For example, you might hear people talk about economic instability. Or if your behavior at school grows erratic and unpredictable, you might be asked to speak to a therapist about your psychological instability.
Vocabulary lists containing instability
Southeast Asia - Middle School
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Southeast Asia - High School
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Second Democratic Debate 20 words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The price of gold -- a safe-haven asset in troubled times -- has hit a new era of record highs amid global instability.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
I think Americans don’t really understand the fragility of the food system, the amount of work that goes into it or the geopolitical instability.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
There have been significant turnout disparities between its wards, with the lowest turnout in recent elections in wards with the highest levels of housing instability and poverty.
From Slate • May 26, 2026
The authors suggested that high dose Wegovy may increase the risk of reduced blood supply to the optic nerve through mechanisms involving blood pressure drops, fluid loss, and instability in the autonomic nervous system.
From Science Daily • May 23, 2026
The aim was to create a communications system that would go across multiple networks, making it less vulnerable to attack or instability.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
