instability

Instability means a lack of stability or balance in a situation. Think of a seesaw that's wobbling – it's unstable.

When we talk about instability, we often think about things like economies or governments being unsteady and prone to change. We might say something is "unstable" if it can easily tip over or collapse. For example, after a big storm, a building might be considered unstable until repairs are made. The same goes for a country with an unstable government – people may be worried about what will happen next.