volatility

noun

vol·​a·​til·​i·​ty ˌvä-lə-ˈti-lə-tē 

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

Despite the stock halting in trading because of volatility, its price still slumped, in part impacted by the company’s early reporting of its quarterly results on Friday. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 7 June 2024

Shares of GameStop climbed more than 75% in early trading on Monday, triggering a halt in markets multiple times on account of the volatility. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 3 June 2024

The global economy has entered a new era of enduring volatility. —Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 2 June 2024

But Monday’s skirmish was the latest in a string of events underscoring the region’s volatility since Oct. 7, and the risk that the Israel-Hamas war will rattle longstanding peace agreements — nurtured by Washington for decades — between Israel and its neighbors. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above