instability

noun

in·​sta·​bil·​i·​ty ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce instability (audio)
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially : lack of emotional or mental stability

Examples of instability in a Sentence

Investors are worried about the current instability of the stock market. The patient has a history of emotional instability.
Recent Examples on the Web As newsrooms around the country struggle for new audiences and profitable business models, journalists have responded to the instability in their industry by forming unions. Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Stability moving to instability and order moving to disorder. Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2024 The rationale behind each cruelty is delicately evoked and domestic instability, Hong Kong’s cutthroat property market, and its paltry social support systems become the real villains. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 25 Feb. 2024 Software instability may prevent the rear-view camera image from displaying. USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Navigating Global Political And Economic Change With rapid political and economic change and instability occurring worldwide, CEOs need to keep focus on how to match their workforce skill balance with customer expectations. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The only certainty, experts agree, is that the military’s prominent role in politics is here to stay — as is the instability that the country has been unable to shake. Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 The printing of money accelerated significant instability that surrounded the country’ most recent presidential election in November of 2023. Robert Ginsburg, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Some of the circumstances at the southern border are well beyond the president’s control, including historic migration across the hemisphere from Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras and other countries facing instability, violence and natural disasters. Zolan Kanno-Youngs, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instability.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of instability was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near instability

Cite this Entry

“Instability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instability. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

instability

noun
in·​sta·​bil·​i·​ty ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce instability (audio)
: the quality or state of being unstable

Medical Definition

instability

noun
in·​sta·​bil·​i·​ty ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce instability (audio)
plural instabilities
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially : lack of emotional or mental stability

More from Merriam-Webster on instability

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