English Reference
Noun

irritability

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌɪɹɪtəˈbɪɫəti/ UK /ˌɪɹɪtəbˈɪlɪti/ ir·ri·tabil·i·ty UK spelling irritabilities Medicine

n.a feeling of being easily annoyed or upset. You might feel this way when you are tired, hungry, or in pain.

n.a state of being easily annoyed or provoked to anger. Often associated with physiological states such as fatigue, hunger, or hormonal changes.


SIMPLE

She felt a lot of irritability after not sleeping well.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor noted that the patient's irritability was likely a side effect of the new medication.

COMPLEX

Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to a significant increase in irritability, making it difficult for individuals to maintain social composure or perform complex cognitive tasks.

In turn, this can cause poor sleep, irritability and decision fatigue, she says.

BBC News· 5 Sept 2026

They may have noticeable academic and attention challenges that reflect their anxiety, irritability or restlessness adjusting to reduced phone access.

The Conversation· 6 Jul 2026

From Latin irritabilitās, equivalent to irritable + -ity.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin irritabilitās
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated