noun
instability
in-stuh-BIL-uh-tee/ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti/
The state of being unsteady or liable to change or fail.
The slipping block reveals the leaning tower's instability.
Etymology
Stabilis covered both physical firmness and figurative steadfastness. Negating that quality gives instability its range: something may lack secure footing, or a person or situation may be inconstant and unreliable.
In context
when this balance is tipped in one direction or the other it creates a situation of instability and geopolitical uncertainty
More examples
- The ladder's instability makes it unsafe to climb.
- She wears a brace to reduce instability in her knee.
- High debt increases the company's financial instability.
Forms
instability · instabilities
unstable adjective — Not steady or likely to remain unchanged.
stability noun — The state of remaining steady or reliable.
Similar words
- unsteadiness
- Emphasizes shaky movement or poor balance rather than broader unreliability.
- volatility
- Emphasizes rapid, unpredictable changes rather than lack of steadiness generally.
- fragility
- Emphasizes susceptibility to damage or collapse rather than unpredictable change.