stability

noun sta·bil·i·ty \ stə-ˈbi-lə-tē \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Definition of stability

plural stabilities

1 : the quality, state, or degree of being stable: such as

a : the strength to stand or endure : firmness

b : the property of a body that causes it when disturbed from a condition of equilibrium or steady motion to develop forces or moments that restore the original condition

c : resistance to chemical change or to physical disintegration

2 : residence for life in one monastery

See stability defined for English-language learners

See stability defined for kids

Examples of stability in a Sentence

the country's political and economic stability
Test the platform for stability before using it.
There are some questions about the applicant's mental stability.

Recent Examples of stability from the Web

John Foley, executive director of Sacramento Self Help Housing, another program that helps homeless people find stability, agreed.

— cynthia hubert, sacbee, "Are giant tents the answer to Sacramento's homeless crisis? Observers aren't so sure | The Sacramento Bee," 27 May 2018
Use caution with your finances, with an eye to more stability.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Horoscope," 17 May 2018
Renewable energy would also reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources: a boon to America’s economic and geopolitical stability.

— nathan sproul, Fortune, "How Relying on Oil Makes Us More Vulnerable to Cyberattacks," 10 May 2018
The government took control of Anbang earlier this year, saying its rapid expansion was a threat to financial stability.

— The Economist, "Business this week," 10 May 2018
Lawmakers around that time also required the vans to come with electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and three-point seat belts.

— justin price, The Courier-Journal, "Child's death led family in a crusade for 15-passenger van safety," 10 May 2018
Those clawing their way up in the world, or out of a hole, or back to stability.

— ellen mccarthy, ajc, "Top bunk for $30 a day: Life inside one of Airbnb's modern boarding houses," 8 May 2018
Many Egyptians see Sisi as vital to stability in a country where unrest since 2011 has hurt the economy.

— staff report, Houston Chronicle, "Early voting to end May 1 in Katy," 27 Apr. 2018
All the apparent instability in Djokovic’s entourage stands in stark contrast to the stability within the Nadal and Federer teams over the years.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Mailbag: How Should We Feel About the Controverisal Tennys Sandgren?," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stability.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of stability

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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stability Synonyms

STABILITY Defined for English Language Learners

stability

noun

Definition of stability for English Language Learners

: the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change
: the quality or state of something that is not easily moved
: the quality or state of someone who is emotionally or mentally healthy