stabilizer

noun

sta·​bi·​liz·​er ˈstā-bə-ˌlī-zər 

plural stabilizers

: one that stabilizes something: such as

a

: a substance added to another substance (such as an explosive or plastic) or to a system (such as an emulsion) to prevent or delay an unwanted alteration of physical state

b

: a gyroscope device to keep ships steady in a heavy sea

c

: an airfoil providing stability for an airplane

specifically : the fixed horizontal member of the tail assembly see airplane illustration

Examples of stabilizer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The collection features a range of fabric panels, a fusible stabilizer and instructional materials designed to inspire creativity and preserve the artistry of handcrafted textiles. —Courtney Lane, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025

Parts that have already been recovered, such as the cockpit, cabin, horizontal stabilizer finlets, the vertical fin, and a portion of the tail boom, were sent to NTSB laboratories in Washington for inspection. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025

Editors’ Picks How an American Sign Language Artist Spends Their Sundays The cockpit and cabin, the vertical fin, the horizontal stabilizer finlets and the forward portion of the tail boom have all been recovered. —Chelsia Rose Marcius, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

Investigators have recovered the helicopter’s main fuselage, including its cockpit and cabin, the forward portion of its tail boom, its horizontal stabilizer finlets and its vertical fin, the safety board announced Saturday night. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stabilizer

• advertiser
• analyser
• analyzer
• appetizer
• atomizer
• breathalyzer
• colonizer
• crystallizer
• digitizer
• equalizer
• fertilizer
• localizer

Kids Definition

stabilizer

noun

sta·​bi·​liz·​er ˈstā-bə-ˌlī-zər 

: one (as a chemical or a device) that stabilizes something

especially : a fixed surface for stabilizing the motion of an airplane

Medical Definition

stabilizer

noun

sta·​bi·​liz·​er

variants also British stabiliser

ˈstā-bə-ˌlī-zər 

: one that stabilizes something

especially : a substance added to another substance or to a system (as an emulsion) to prevent or retard an unwanted alteration of physical state