Stabilization

How to spell stabilization

13 letters · 5 syllables

How to pronounce stabilization

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does stabilization mean?

1. nounThe process of making something steady, firm, or resistant to sudden change.

Stabilization in a sentence

• The central bank announced measures aimed at currency stabilization.

• Physiotherapy focused on the stabilization of his injured knee.

Where does stabilization come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word traces back to the Latin stabilis, meaning 'firm', 'steady', or 'able to stand', which itself was built on the verb stare, 'to stand'. The same Latin root gives us a whole family of related English words, including 'stable', 'establish', and 'stamina'. English first formed the adjective 'stable' from Old French in the medieval period, then later derived the verb 'stabilize' by adding the suffix -ize, meaning 'to make', during the nineteenth century. From that verb, the noun 'stabilization' was created with -ation to name the act or process of making something steady. The spelling trap lies in the unstressed middle: the 'i' in 'stabil-' is easy to drop or swap, and writers must remember the -iz- before -ation rather than an -is- form.

How the word is built

• stabil- (from stabilis: steady, firm)
• -ize (verb suffix: to make)
• -ation (noun suffix: the act or result)

British and American spelling

Stabilization is the American spelling. British English spells it stabilisation.