volatility

noun

vol·​a·​til·​i·​ty ˌvä-lə-ˈti-lə-tē How to pronounce volatility (audio)
plural volatilities
: the quality or state of being volatile: such as
a
: a tendency to change quickly and unpredictably
price volatility
the volatility of the stock market
b
: a tendency to erupt in violence or anger
the volatility of the region
the volatility of his temper
c
: the quality of being readily vaporizable at a fairly low temperature
As each component of crude oil has a different relative volatility, they will evaporate at different temperatures.Martin W. Stockel et al.

Examples of volatility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Incorporating fungal biodiversity into agricultural planning offers a powerful hedge against food system risk, helping companies navigate fertilizer volatility, regulatory pressures, and the growing need to demonstrate climate-resilient practices. Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 The lack of volatility has given the stock a beta of 0.43 compared to the overall market's beta of 1.0, which means CBOE has about half the volatility of the S & P 500. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 24 July 2025 Kohl's stock surged to nearly $20 per share before falling back down, demonstrating the volatility driven by short selling and speculation. Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025 Fears that Trump’s tariff hikes would stoke long-term economic volatility have eased, with Goldman Sachs now expecting a one-time rise in prices rather than a sustained surge. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for volatility

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of volatility was in 1626

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Cite this Entry

“Volatility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volatility. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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