destabilisation
|de-sta-bi-li-sa-tion|
/ˌdiːsteɪbəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
making unstable
Etymology
'destabilisation' originates from French, specifically the word 'déstabilisation', where the prefix 'dé-' meant 'removal' and 'stabiliser' (from Latin 'stabilis') meant 'stable'.
'destabilisation' changed from French 'déstabilisation' (and from the verb 'déstabiliser') and was adopted into English as 'destabilisation' via modern usage of the verb-form + '-ation' suffix.
Initially it combined the sense of 'removing stability' from its parts, and over time it has come to denote both the technical loss of stability and broader political/societal processes of making something unstable.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process or act of making a political, economic, or social situation unstable.
The sudden destabilisation of the country's currency triggered a banking crisis.
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Noun 2
a loss of physical or systemic stability in a scientific, mechanical, or engineering context (when a system becomes unstable).
Researchers observed destabilisation in the plasma during the experiment.
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Noun 3
deliberate actions intended to weaken or overthrow an established authority or order (often used in contexts of covert interference).
There were concerns about foreign involvement in the destabilisation of the government.
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Last updated: 2025/10/24 16:31