perturbation

noun/ˌpɜrtərˈbeɪʃən/

Frequency rank: #17,769 most common English word

Meaning

a state of anxiety or mental unease; a small disturbance or deviation from a normal or expected state.

Illustration for the English word “perturbation”

Example sentence

The scientist noticed a slight perturbation in the satellite's orbit and began investigating its cause.

Synonyms & related words

Practice this word in the quiz

More words in ranks 17,701–17,800