turbulence

American  

[tur-byuh-luhns] / ˈtɜr byə ləns /

Sometimes turbulency

noun

1. the quality or state of being turbulent; violent disorder or commotion.

2. Hydraulics. the haphazard secondary motion caused by eddies within a moving fluid.

3. Meteorology. irregular motion of the atmosphere, as that indicated by gusts and lulls in the wind.

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turbulence British  

/ ˈtɜːbjʊləns, ˈtɜːbjʊˌlənsɪ /

noun

1. a state or condition of confusion, movement, or agitation; disorder

2. meteorol local instability in the atmosphere, oceans, or rivers

3. turbulent flow in a liquid or gas

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turbulence Scientific  

/ tûr′byə-ləns /

1. Chaotic or unstable eddying motion in a fluid. Avoiding excessive turbulence generated around moving objects (such as airplanes), which can make their motion inefficient and difficult to control, is a major factor in aerodynamic design.

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Etymology

Origin of turbulence

From the Late Latin word turbulentia, dating back to 1590–1600. See turbulent, -ence

Explanation

Use the noun turbulence to describe instability or disturbance. If you’re on an airplane during a storm, turbulence is that horrible thing that is causing the plane (and your stomach) to bounce around. The word turbulence can be used to refer to atmospheric instability, such as sudden, unpredictable air movements resulting from a storm, but the word has a broader meaning as well and you will often hear it used to describe any situation characterized by unrest and disorder. If your stocks are fluctuating wildly in price, that could be a result of turbulence in the stock market. If last year was filled with unpredictable change, you could describe it as a year of great turbulence.

Example Sentences

That didn’t happen during similar episodes of oil price turbulence around 1979 and 1980 because of a combination of slower wage growth, a stronger yen and swift monetary policy action.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

The largest U.S. carriers have navigated the turbulence effectively by hiking airfares to mitigate the impact of surging fuel costs.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

While examining images and videos of 3D magnetic turbulence, he noticed that large-scale magnetic structures resembled the shapes of large-scale flows.

From Science Daily • May 26, 2026

The travel site Going’s “Cheapest Cities” report identified cities in the U.S. and abroad where affordable flights have been consistent despite broader turbulence in the industry.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

The parking situation at John Wayne is the first indication that there’s going to be turbulence up ahead.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• conflict
• confusion
• disturbance
• instability
• tumult
• turmoil
• unrest