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

But recent volatility, driven in part by broader macroeconomic uncertainty, has pushed rates higher. —Jessica Lautz, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026

Trade timing & outlook Alphabet recently reclaimed the $310 resistance area, which has become an important technical inflection zone after the sharp geopolitical volatility of the past several weeks. —Tony Zhang, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026

That kind of volatility tends to make lenders cautious, and cautious lenders rarely pass savings along to borrowers — at least not right away. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026

While global mills like Artistic Milliners are investing in diversification and nearshoring to manage mounting volatility, others are navigating the shifting landscape in a fundamentally different way. —Andre Claudio, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for volatility

• affability
• audibility
• bistability
• capability
• changeability
• contractility
• credibility
• culpability
• disability
• disutility
• durability
• fallibility