perturbation

noun

per·​tur·​ba·​tion ˌpər-tər-ˈbā-shən 

ˌpər-ˌtər-

1

: the action of perturbing : the state of being perturbed

2

: a disturbance of motion, course, arrangement, or state of equilibrium

especially : a disturbance of the regular and usually elliptical course of motion of a celestial body that is produced by some force additional to that which causes its regular motion

perturbational

ˌpər-tər-ˈbā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

ˌpər-ˌtər-

adjective

Synonyms

• agita
• agitation
• anxiety
• anxiousness
• apprehension
• apprehensiveness
• care
• concern
• concernment
• disquiet
• disquietude
• fear
• nervosity
• nervousness
• solicitude
• sweat
• unease
• uneasiness
• worry

Examples of perturbation in a Sentence

a perturbation in the planet's orbit

in her perturbation she kept calling her son, a freshman, to see if everything was all right at college

Recent Examples on the Web

Relative genotoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons inferred from free energy perturbation approaches. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024

But neither would cryptorchidism, perturbations in thyroid hormone, reproductive issues and developmental issues in children, which epidemiological studies have shown to be associated with BFR exposure. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024

As scientists tried to make sense of dinosaur and mastodon bones and the stark geological evidence of immense, long-ago perturbations in the Earth’s lands and waters, different schools of thought emerged. —Brooke Jarvis, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024

His team's 2019 experiments involved pouring Hellman's Real Mayonnaise—no Miracle Whip for this crew—into a Plexiglass container and then creating wavelike perturbations in the mayo. —Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

perturbation

noun

per·​tur·​ba·​tion ˌpərt-ər-ˈbā-shən 

ˌpər-ˌtər-

1

: the action of perturbing

2

: the state of being perturbed

perturbational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective