instability
/ɪnstəˈbɪlɪti/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: instabilities
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The quality of being unstable.
Noun
Examples
The template is [Richard] Nixon’s “madman theory” of diplomatic engagement – shorthand for prompting your adversaries to doubt your sanity and mental instability to the point where they are intimidated into otherwise unlikely concessions.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A state that is not in equilibrium, or in which a small change has a large irreversible effect.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “instability” mean?
The quality of being unstable.
Is “instability” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.