instability
noun/ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti/
/ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti/
[uncountable, countable, usually plural] (plural instabilities)
Word Family
- stable adjective (≠ unstable)
- stability noun (≠ instability)
- stabilize verb
- the quality or state of being likely to change or fail suddenly
- political and economic instability
Extra ExamplesTopics Difficulty and failurec1, Moneyc1- Instability may arise at times of change.
- Racism causes political instability and violence.
- The increase in inflation will inject a degree of instability into the economy.
- The law was introduced to avoid instability during the transition.
- a long period of economic instability
- economic instability resulting from climate change
- the inherent instability of financial markets
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- increased
- growing
- increasing
- …
- degree
- cause
- create
- foster
- …
- arise
- occur
- result from
- …
- a period of instability
- a source of instability
- a mental condition in which somebody’s behaviour is likely to change suddenly
- mental/emotional instability
- He showed increasing signs of mental instability.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- increased
- growing
- increasing
- …
- degree
- cause
- create
- foster
- …
- arise
- occur
- result from
- …
- a period of instability
- a source of instability
opposite stability see also unstable
Word Originlate Middle English: from French instabilité, from Latin instabilitas, from instabilis, from in- ‘not’ + stabilis (from the base of stare ‘to stand’).
Check pronunciation:
instability