Entry Word: unsteady

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence <a year of unsteady economic growth> — see fitful
2 likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly <in the days of sailing ships, mariners were constantly at the mercy of unsteady winds> — see fickle 1
3 not being in or able to maintain a state of balance <cautiously climbed up the unsteady ladder> — see unstable 1
4 not staying constant <unsteady business conditions that rattled investors> — see uneven 2