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Synonyms

instability

American  
[in-stuh-bil-i-tee] / ˌɪn stəˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

  1. the quality or state of being unstable; lack of stability or firmness.

  2. the tendency to behave in an unpredictable, changeable, or erratic manner.

    emotional instability.
instability British  
/ ˌɪnstəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

  1. lack of stability or steadiness

  2. tendency to variable or unpredictable behaviour

  3. physics a fast growing disturbance or wave in a plasma

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Quantum stocks were notoriously volatile long before the recent bout of market instability.

From Barron's

Excessive power and instability go hand in hand.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some of what has impacted the unimpressive growth of the addressable audience for home entertainment has been the instability of the market.

From MarketWatch

United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said the company is ready to face instability.

From Los Angeles Times

"I worry that we are in for a prolonged period of instability and uncertainty," said Brownstein, "that has important follow-on effects."

From Barron's

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.