labile

[ ley-bahyl, -buhl ]

adjective

1. apt or likely to change:

   the labile nature of language.

2. (in chemistry, biology, psychiatry, etc.) able or likely to change or break down easily, rapidly, or continually; unstable:

   labile emotions;

   labile blood pressure;

   cellular functions that seem to require different levels of labile zinc.

labile

/ ˈleɪbɪl; ləˈbɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. chem (of a compound) prone to chemical change
2. liable to change or move

Derived Forms

• lability, noun

Other Words From

• la·bil·i·ty [l, uh, -, bil, -i-tee, ley-], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of labile¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English labil “(of the mind) wandering, forgetful,” from Latin lābilis “sliding, slipping, (of verse) smooth-flowing,” equivalent to Latin lāb(ī) “to slip” + -ilis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of labile¹

C15: via Late Latin lābilis, from Latin lābī to slide, slip

Example Sentences

“People with a history of trauma and mental illness tend to be emotionally labile,” Kupers added.

From The Daily Beast

On the contrary the labile opsonins of normal serum have a comparatively general action on different organisms.

From Project Gutenberg

This is readily intelligible on the supposition that the toxophorous group is more labile than the haptophorous.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter is ferment-like and much more labile than the former, being readily destroyed at 60 C.

From Project Gutenberg

In both cases an extremely labile connection with consciousness arises which leads to a rapid forgetting.

From Project Gutenberg

We are rather like the labile chemical compounds: our molecules readily rearrange themselves.

From Project Gutenberg