instability

noun

in·​sta·​bil·​i·​ty ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce instability (audio)
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially : lack of emotional or mental stability

Example Sentences

Investors are worried about the current instability of the stock market. The patient has a history of emotional instability.
Recent Examples on the Web To make matters worse, during times of economic instability, DEI programs are the first to get defunded. Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2023 The Biden administration has been accelerating visa processing and broadly using humanitarian parole programs for migrants fleeing war and economic instability. Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2023 Over the past year, hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans have journeyed to the U.S. border, fleeing economic instability and political repression in their homelands. Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2023 From climate change to economic instability, the world’s problems are too great to keep falling back on old solutions. David Boynton, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2023 Sunak became prime minister after his predecessor Liz Truss lasted less than two months in office before resigning amid economic instability. Ronn Blitzer, Fox News, 25 Dec. 2022 Economic and political instability there has been worsened by the pandemic, and the Biden administration argues that this accounts for the surge in overall arrivals. Jordan Fabian, Bloomberg.com, 16 Nov. 2022 García released a video early Thursday — two days after winning another term in Congress — announcing his candidacy and noting the difficult recent years of economic instability, the pandemic and a racial reckoning. Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2022 And in a year of economic instability and energy price volatility, many countries have sunk public funds into the cultivation and acquisition of carbon-emitting fossil fuels. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2022 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of instability was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near instability

Cite this Entry

“Instability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instability. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

instability

noun
in·​sta·​bil·​i·​ty ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce instability (audio)
: the quality or state of being unstable

Medical Definition

instability

noun
in·​sta·​bil·​i·​ty ˌin(t)-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce instability (audio)
plural instabilities
: the quality or state of being unstable
especially : lack of emotional or mental stability

More from Merriam-Webster on instability

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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