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
Synonyms
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
See all Example Sentences for perturbation 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
See all Example Sentences for perturbation
Dictionary Entries Near perturbation
Cite this Entry
“Perturbation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perturbation. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perturbation
noun
per·tur·ba·tion
ˌpərt-ər-ˈbā-shən
ˌpər-ˌtər-
1
: the action of perturbing
2
: the state of being perturbed
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share