stability

American  

[stuh-bil-i-tee] / stəˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

stabilities

1. the state or quality of being stable.

2. firmness in position.

3. continuance without change; permanence.

4. Chemistry. resistance or the degree of resistance to chemical change or disintegration.

5. resistance to change, especially sudden change or deterioration.

   The stability of the economy encourages investment.

6. steadfastness; constancy, as of character or purpose.

   The job calls for a great deal of emotional stability.

   Synonyms:

   balance, solidity, poise, soundness, strength, steadiness

7. Aeronautics. the ability of an aircraft to return to its original flying position when abruptly displaced.

8. Roman Catholic Church. a vow taken by a Benedictine monk, binding him to residence for life in the same monastery in which he made the vow.

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stability British  

/ stəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality of being stable

2. the ability of an aircraft to resume its original flight path after inadvertent displacement

3. meteorol

   1. the condition of an air or water mass characterized by no upward movement

   2. the degree of susceptibility of an air mass to disturbance by convection currents

4. ecology the ability of an ecosystem to resist change

5. electrical engineering the ability of an electrical circuit to cope with changes in the operational conditions

6. a vow taken by every Benedictine monk attaching him perpetually to the monastery where he is professed

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Other Word Forms

• nonstability noun
• overstability noun
• self-stability noun

Etymology

Origin of stability

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin stabilitās, from stabili(s) stable ² + -tās -ty ²; replacing late Middle English stablete, from Old French, from Latin, as above

Explanation

Stability is the quality of being unchanging. You know you should be congratulated on your commitment to stability when you’ve lived in the same place your whole life. Stability is often used to describe buildings or structures that won't collapse or fall down. Good tires will help you maintain stability on snowy or icy roads. You can use the word more figuratively for a safe environment or a healthy mental state. Financial and political stability are to be desired. Hopefully you will provide your children stability and love. When you have violent outbursts, people began to doubt your mental stability.

Example Sentences

Concerns about rule of law and China’s long-term stability have led many wealthy citizens to park their money offshore.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Eghbali also acknowledged that a lack of managerial stability has been one of the key issues behind Chelsea falling short in recent seasons.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Mediation tends to produce short-term crisis abatement at the cost of long-term stability because agreements reached under third-party pressure often fail to resolve the underlying conditions responsible for conflict in the first place.

From Barron's • Apr. 18, 2026

Growth stocks now are the default beneficiary of greater stability and flat to lower energy costs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

They were more accurate at measuring conscientiousness, and they were much more accurate at predicting both the students’ emotional stability and their openness to new experiences.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• balance
• cohesion
• establishment
• security
• strength
• support