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-sh(ə-)nəl 

ˌpər-ˌtər-

adjective

Synonyms of perturbation

• 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

Rigid wings experienced abrupt destabilization, while passive soft wings without sensing and control struggled to recover from larger flow perturbations. —Etiido Uko march 09, New Atlas, 9 Mar. 2026

In the canonical metaphorical example, a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, and the cascading sequence of atmospheric perturbations leads to a tornado in Texas. —Dan Garisto, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025

By comparing the forward and backward series of operations, the new algorithm can see the effects of this perturbation throughout the molecule and so model the molecule as a whole. —IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2025

But otherwise the climate, through its perturbations, has maintained conditions conducive to animal life for nearly a half-billion years. —Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 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