turbulence
Americannoun
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the quality or state of being turbulent; violent disorder or commotion.
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Hydraulics. the haphazard secondary motion caused by eddies within a moving fluid.
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Meteorology. irregular motion of the atmosphere, as that indicated by gusts and lulls in the wind.
noun
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a state or condition of confusion, movement, or agitation; disorder
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meteorol local instability in the atmosphere, oceans, or rivers
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turbulent flow in a liquid or gas
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing turbulence
The Great Gatsby
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Flying High: Aviation Words
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"Fears and Phobias," Vocabulary from the article
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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.
Greenspan was born on March 6, 1926, in the New York City neighborhood of Washington Heights, according to his autobiography, “The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026
Turbulence in markets as well as geopolitics presented plenty of opportunities for others.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 24, 2026
Turbulence could hit the market as a result of any number of potential factors.
From Barron's • Oct. 29, 2025
Turbulence is one of the most unpredictable of all weather phenomena, with severe turbulence becoming more likely with climate change, recent research shows.
From BBC • Aug. 1, 2024
Turbulence tugged the Vimy around like a toy.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
