turbulence

American  

[tur-byuh-luhns] / ˈtɜr bjə ləns /

Sometimes turbulency

noun

• turbulences
  plural

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 /

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• turbulences
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of turbulence

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

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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

See Examples For:

turbulence turbulences

SpaceX’s stock has mostly stabilized following a few months of turbulence in the aftermath of its initial public offering, and the company is due to report third-quarter earnings next week.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Pilots navigating the island also face heavy turbulence, low-lying sea fog, sudden microclimates and strong updrafts and downdrafts that can push a small aircraft off course.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

“We recognize the controversy and turbulence that has existed to get us to this point. I hope we prove them wrong through action,” Ellison said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

A British man who died on board a Singapore Airlines flight suffered a cardiac arrest after the plane was hit by severe turbulence, an inquest has been told.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Just moving around makes enough turbulence to send the smoke everywhere.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

“The current turbulences and twists and turns are the ones that we do not wish to see,” Li said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025

"But now we see little turbulences - meaning, an improvement - compared to what we saw in the first few months," he said.

From Reuters ● Aug. 10, 2023

Companies with operations outside the United States also face headwinds from a stronger dollar in the wake of steep interest rate hikes and geopolitical turbulences.

From Reuters ● Nov. 4, 2022

There were even more serious turbulences in Bulgaria.

From Time Magazine Archive

Air rushed past him—a smooth, whispering flow, pierced by his beak, streaming invisibly past his sharp eyes, moving along his body in tiny turbulences that moved his feathers against his skin.

From Keep Your Shape by Robert Sheckley

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Related Words

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

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