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
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.
Scientists now accept instability of volcanoes as a major hazard.
From Literature
Sir Keir said he and his Japanese counterpart agreed on the need to respond with "strength and clarity" to increasing instability in the world, and thanked her for "steadfast leadership in supporting Ukraine".
From BBC
Sabalenka was the heavy favourite to beat unseeded American underdog Madison Keys and claim a third straight Melbourne title, but the instability of her second serve returned in a three-set defeat.
From BBC
Benjamin Netanyahu has long seen Iran as the key threat facing Israel, and the biggest source of instability in the Middle East.
From BBC
Confusing one for the other is how investors end up buying into instability rather than opportunity.
From MarketWatch
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.
