sell-off

1 of 2

noun

: a usually sudden sharp decline in security prices accompanied by increased volume of trading

sell off

2 of 2

verb

sold off; selling off; sells off

intransitive verb

: to suffer a drop in prices

Examples of sell-off 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.
Noun
These sell-offs, coupled with the rising import bill due to the surge in global oil prices, have weighed on the Indian rupee, putting it among the worst-performing currencies in Asia. Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 June 2026 The primary area of caution surrounds downturn resilience, where MSFT has historically underperformed the index during significant sell-offs. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Verb
The company sold off those holdings in 2012 and 2013 — including some of them to Yes! Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026 William also recently announced his decision to flout centuries of royal tradition by selling off $670 million of his Duchy of Cornwall estate over the next decade. Lara Walsh, InStyle, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sell-off

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1976, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sell-off was in 1976

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sell-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sell-off. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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