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
Bank of America is sticking by Kenvue and views its most recent sell-off as a buying opportunity for investors. Pia Singh, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025 Concern over political uncertainty led to a sell-off in Japan’s yen currency and its government bonds last week, with the yield on the 30-year bond hitting a record high on Wednesday. CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
Would Rupert and Lachlan sell off the empire while the regulatory state of affairs was in their favor, and before Rupert’s passing (or the year 2030, whichever came first) caused a family crisis? Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025 Look how flawlessly that 50-day has served as support all summer long — even when the de minimis loophole for tariff-free Chinese goods was closed and every ecommerce stock sold off on the news — the 50-day managed to hold. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025 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 11 Sep. 2025.

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