labile
Americanadjective
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apt or likely to change.
the labile nature of language.
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(in chemistrybiologypsychiatryetc.) able or likely to change or break down easilyrapidlyor continually; unstable.
labile emotions;
labile blood pressure;
cellular functions that seem to require different levels of labile zinc.
adjective
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chem (of a compound) prone to chemical change
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liable to change or move
Other Word Forms
- lability noun
Etymology
Origin of labile
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English labil “(of the mind) wanderingforgetful,” from Latin lābilis “slidingslipping(of verse) smooth-flowing,” equivalent to Latin lāb(ī) “to slip” + -ilis -ile
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anna says to herself“Psychopath. The superficial charmthe labile personalitythe flat affect.”
From The New Yorker • Feb. 42019
They both also happen to be emotionally labile oversharersa quality that discomfits the taciturn Kumail.
From Slate • Jun. 152017
Mr. Bowie’s voice was similarly labile — gliding between ragged cackle and haunting croon as he sang about decaying cities and alienated rock stars.
From Washington Post • Jan. 112016
Facial expressions in Bharata Natyam are properly broadyet while Mr. Venkatesan’s cat-that-got-the-canary grin works for KrishnaI found some of his labile mugging less than conducive to spiritual contemplation.
From New York Times • Aug. 132012
He was able to analyze only one case and she retained her affect; it was even labile and marked.
From Benign Stupors A Study of a New Manic-Depressive Reaction Type by MacCurdyJohn T. (John Thompson)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridgedbased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary© Random HouseInc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 200220011995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
