perturbation

noun

per·​tur·​ba·​tion ˌpər-tər-ˈbā-shən 

ˌpər-ˌtər-

1

: the action of perturbing : the state of being perturbed

2

: a disturbance of motion, course, arrangement, or state of equilibrium

especially : a disturbance of the regular and usually elliptical course of motion of a celestial body that is produced by some force additional to that which causes its regular motion

perturbational

ˌpər-tər-ˈbā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

ˌpər-ˌtər-

adjective

Synonyms

• fear
• concern
• anxiety
• worry
• unease
• concernment

Examples of perturbation in a Sentence

a perturbation in the planet's orbit

in her perturbation she kept calling her son, a freshman, to see if everything was all right at college

Recent Examples on the Web

At this intersection, the potential impact of single-cell perturbation datasets on drug discovery can be profound. —Amelia Palermo, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Their wavelengths are too long and their frequencies too low to pick up the tiny perturbations caused by sound waves bouncing off the water’s surface from below. —IEEE Spectrum, 24 Aug. 2018

In the short term, the position of a satellite's orbit will remain unchanged on this reference map without any perturbation. —Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025

Massively parallel genetic perturbation suggests the energetic structure of an amyloid-β transition state. —Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for perturbation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

perturbation

noun

per·​tur·​ba·​tion ˌpərt-ər-ˈbā-shən 

ˌpər-ˌtər-

1

: the action of perturbing

2

: the state of being perturbed

perturbational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective