English Reference
noun

stability

n.
US /stəˈbɪɫɪti/ UK /stəbˈɪlɪti/ sta·bil·i·ty UK spelling stabilities, stability's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a situation where things stay the same and do not change in a bad way.

    the quality of being steady and resistant to sudden change or collapse, often applied to emotions, finances, or politics.

    Simple

    After years of moving from city to city, she finally found some stability in her life.

    In context

    The central bank's primary objective is to maintain price stability and ensure the long-term health of the national economy.

    Usage

    Often used with adjectives like 'economic', 'political', or 'emotional'.

    steadinesssolidityconstancy
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the ability of an object to stay balanced and not fall over.

    the physical property of being balanced or fixed in place; the capacity of a structure or body to return to equilibrium after being disturbed.

    Simple

    The wide base of the chair gives it more stability on uneven floors.

    In context

    Engineers tested the bridge's structural stability against high winds and seismic activity to ensure public safety.

    Usage

    Common in engineering, physics, and anatomy contexts.

    balanceequilibriumsturdiness
    unsteadiness

Usage stability in the south · economic stability · ensure stability

But significant obstacles to lasting stability remain, particularly the “increasingly damaging restrictions” on women and girls and ongoing terrorism concerns.

UN News· 13 Aug 2026

These activities violate Security Council resolution 1701 , adopted as the internationally agreed framework for peace and stability in south Lebanon, helping to bring an end to the country’s 2006 conflict with Israel.

UN News· 10 Aug 2026

From Middle English stabletee, stabilite, from Old French stabilité, from Latin root of stabilitas (“firmness, steadfastness”), from stabilis (“steadfast, firm”). Displaced native Old English staþolfæstnes.

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

This entry
Origin Latin -
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated