labile

American  

[ley-bahyl, -buhl] / ˈleɪ baɪl, -bəl /

adjective

1. apt or likely to change.

   the labile nature of language.

2. (in chemistry, biology, psychiatry, etc.) able or likely to change or break down easily, rapidly, or continually; unstable.

   labile emotions;

   labile blood pressure;

   cellular functions that seem to require different levels of labile zinc.

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labile British  

/ ˈleɪbɪl, ləˈbɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. chem (of a compound) prone to chemical change

2. liable to change or move

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Other Word Forms

• lability
  noun

Etymology

Origin of labile

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English labil “(of the mind) wandering, forgetful,” from Latin lābilis “sliding, slipping, (of verse) smooth-flowing,” equivalent to Latin lāb(ī) “to slip” + -ilis -ile

Explanation

Labile is an adjective used to describe something that is easily or frequently changed. Radioactive elements, such as uranium or plutonium, are labile. It is this lability that makes them unstable and dangerous. From the Latin verb lābī, "to slide or slip," labile is often found in a technical context, especially in science, to refer to some sort of instability. For example, in chemistry, a compound that can be easily broken down by heat is called labile. The term can also be used in psychology to describe someone who is emotionally unstable.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

labile

Someone with high IIV might be considered an emotionally labile person.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 5, 2023

They both also happen to be emotionally labile oversharers, a quality that discomfits the taciturn Kumail.

From Slate ● Jun. 15, 2017

He’s reactive rather than active, a labile, intensely emotional man who is shredded by his own inability to discern what’s real.

From The New Yorker ● May 29, 2017

Yes, both Mr. Spector and Ms. Hall are dynamic, intelligent and emotionally labile.

From New York Times ● May 25, 2017

J. Thomsen deduces the actual values of X, Y, Z to be 14.71, 13.27 and zero; the last value he considers to be in agreement with the labile equilibrium of acetylenic compounds.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various