noun
instability
ihns-tuh-BIH-lih-tee
noun
1
The quality of not being stable or steady; a tendency to change, wobble, or collapse.
"Political instability scared off foreign investors."
"The tower's instability was obvious the moment the ground began to shake."
How to Use Instability
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA lack of steadiness — things (governments, structures, emotions, systems) that could easily tip or fall apart.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
political instability
emotional instability
financial instability
Word Forms
instabilities plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “instability”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Political _____ scared off foreign investors.
Etymology
From Latin instabilitas, from in- ("not") + stability.