óstöðugt

Óstöðugt is an Icelandic adjective meaning not stable or lacking stability, consistency, or predictability. It is used to describe physical states or systems that fluctuate over time, as well as more abstract conditions such as economies, weather, or behavior. The form óstöðugt is the neuter singular; masculine and feminine forms exist as óstöðugur and óstöðug, respectively. The related noun óstöðugleiki denotes instability, while the opposite concept is stöðugleiki (stability).

In usage, óstöðugt can describe things that are volatile or subject to change. Examples include conditions in nature, markets, or political environments, as well as patterns of performance or reliability in mechanisms and processes. For instance, veðrið can be óstöðugt (the weather is unstable), ástandið can be óstöðugt (the situation is unstable), and hagkerfið can be óstöðugt (the economy is unstable).

Etymology-wise, the word is formed by adding the negating prefix ó- to stöðugt, the neuter form of stöðugur, meaning stable or steady. The root stöðugur comes from the Icelandic tradition of combining prefixes with adjectives to express negation or opposition. Related terms include stöðugleiki (stability) and óstöðugleiki (instability). Óstöðugt is a standard descriptive term in formal and everyday Icelandic, used across scientific, economic, and cultural contexts to convey fluctuation and lack of steady state.