turbulence
noun
tur·bu·lence
ˈtər-byə-lən(t)s 
: the quality or state of being turbulent: such as
a
: great commotion or agitation
emotional turbulence
b
: irregular atmospheric motion especially when characterized by up-and-down currents
c
: departure in a fluid from a smooth flow
Examples of turbulence in a Sentence
The plane hit quite a bit of turbulence during our flight.
A period of turbulence preceded the riots.
Recent Examples on the Web
Political turbulence may cloud the immediate outlook, but companies like The Sun Company are proving that innovative business strategies can still generate serious returns when the going gets tough.
—
Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
BartekSzewczyk | Getty Images While artificial intelligence has caused turbulence in the labor market, the recent decline in job opportunities has more to do with economic uncertainty, experts say.
—Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
The study concluded that turbulence may have allowed these early gas clouds to form stars either the same size or up to 40 times more massive than the Sun’s mass.
—Luke Keller, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Higher altitude winds over the coastal Pacific may disarm hurricanes too, blowing in from west to east—opposite the direction of the trade winds—and causing turbulence that disrupts the formation of the storm.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turbulence
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Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
BartekSzewczyk | Getty Images While artificial intelligence has caused turbulence in the labor market, the recent decline in job opportunities has more to do with economic uncertainty, experts say.
—Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
The study concluded that turbulence may have allowed these early gas clouds to form stars either the same size or up to 40 times more massive than the Sun’s mass.
—Luke Keller, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Higher altitude winds over the coastal Pacific may disarm hurricanes too, blowing in from west to east—opposite the direction of the trade winds—and causing turbulence that disrupts the formation of the storm.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turbulence
Cite this Entry
“Turbulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turbulence. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
turbulence
noun
tur·bu·lence
ˈtər-byə-lən(t)s
: the quality or state of being turbulent
especially
: irregular atmospheric motion with up and down currents
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