instability
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a situation where things are changing quickly and unpredictably, often in a bad way.
the quality of being prone to sudden change or collapse; often applied to political, economic, or emotional contexts.
Simple“The country suffered from political instability for many years after the war.”
In context“Market analysts warned that the current economic instability could lead to a significant decrease in foreign investment over the next quarter.”
SynonymsAntonymsstabilitysteadiness - 02 C1 Advanced
a state in science where a small change causes a big, permanent effect.
a state in which a system is not in equilibrium, such that a minor perturbation results in a large and often irreversible shift.
Simple“Atmospheric instability often leads to the formation of large thunderstorms.”
In context“The structural instability of the compound became apparent when it was exposed to even slight variations in ambient temperature.”
SynonymsdisequilibriumfluctuationAntonyms
“Thousands of migrants from across Africa and beyond travel to Morocco each year, fleeing conflict, poverty and instability, and seeking a route into Europe.”
“The instability and lack of support that families experience in childhood directly feeds into the adult social care crisis.”
From Middle French instabilité, from Latin instabilitas. Morphologically in- + stability.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.