perturbation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “perturbation” mean?
a state of anxiety or unease.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a state of anxiety or unease; a disturbance of a regular or normal state.
1. (Physics/Astronomy) A small deviation in the motion of a celestial body, caused by the gravitational attraction of another body. 2. (Mathematics) A minor alteration to a mathematical system or equation. 3. (General) Any disruption to a stable system or peace of mind.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Slightly more prevalent in formal British writing, but equally technical in both.
Connotations
Strongly academic/scientific in both varieties. In everyday use, it sounds formal and slightly literary.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; medium-high in academic, scientific, and certain literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “perturbation” in a Sentence
perturbation of [system/state]perturbation in [system/state]perturbation caused by [agent]to be in a state of perturbationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “perturbation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The unusual signals perturbed the astronomers.
- He was deeply perturbed by the editorial.
American English
- The policy change perturbed the investors.
- She didn't want to perturb the delicate balance.
adverb
British English
- He looked at her perturbedly.
- The gauge fluctuated perturbedly.
American English
- She shook her head perturbedly.
- The signal transmitted perturbedly.
adjective
British English
- She had a perturbed expression.
- The perturbed system slowly returned to normal.
American English
- He gave a perturbed sigh.
- The perturbed data required recalibration.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe minor market disruptions: 'The merger caused a slight perturbation in our supply chain.'
Academic
Common in physics, maths, psychology, and literature: 'The study measured the perturbation in the subject's heart rate.'
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound formal: 'The news threw her into a state of some perturbation.'
Technical
Core usage in sciences to describe small deviations: 'They calculated the gravitational perturbation on the satellite's orbit.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “perturbation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “perturbation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “perturbation”
- Using it as a verb (the verb is 'perturb').
- Confusing it with 'perforation' or 'perpetuation'.
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'bother' or 'disturbance' would suffice.
- Misspelling as 'pertubation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively rare in everyday conversation. It belongs to a formal and technical register, commonly found in academic, scientific, and literary contexts.
'Perturbation' often implies a more specific, smaller-scale, or more theoretical disruption, especially in technical fields. 'Disturbance' is broader, more general, and more common in everyday language for any disruption of peace or order.
Almost never. Its core meaning relates to anxiety, unease, or an unwanted deviation from a norm. It is inherently negative or neutral in a technical sense.
The related verb is 'to perturb'. Example: 'The news perturbed him.' The adjective is 'perturbed' (feeling anxious/uneasy) and the adverb is 'perturbedly'.
a state of anxiety or unease.
Perturbation is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Perturbation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɜː.təˈbeɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɝː.tɚˈbeɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not a strongly idiomatic word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PERsistent TURmoil or BotherATION = PERTURBATION. Something that perturbs you creates a perturbation.
Conceptual Metaphor
CALM IS STILL WATER / ORDER IS A STRAIGHT LINE. A perturbation is a ripple in the water or a kink in the line.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'perturbation' MOST appropriately used?