: a usually sudden sharp decline in security prices accompanied by increased volume of trading
sold off; selling off; sells off
: to suffer a drop in prices
Examples of sell-off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Horsley, NPR, 9 July 2025
The sluggish trading came as the market was coming off a broad sell-off following the Trump administration’s decision to impose new import tariffs set to go into effect next month on more than a dozen nations.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Siena Griffin, CNBC, 30 June 2025
There’s been speculation for years that Apple might acquire Disney but in truth, plenty of other film studios (Lionsgate or Warner Bros. included) would be more eager to sell off lots.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sell-off
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Noun
The news prompted a sharp sell-off in the stock market, and Trump quickly backtracked — announcing a 90-day pause on those higher tariffs to allow time for trade negotiations.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 9 July 2025
The sluggish trading came as the market was coming off a broad sell-off following the Trump administration’s decision to impose new import tariffs set to go into effect next month on more than a dozen nations.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Verb
Oil, meanwhile, sold off during the recent conflict in a way that few expected, and in contrast to typical oil price increases during conflicts in the Middle East.
—Siena Griffin, CNBC, 30 June 2025
There’s been speculation for years that Apple might acquire Disney but in truth, plenty of other film studios (Lionsgate or Warner Bros. included) would be more eager to sell off lots.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sell-off
Cite this Entry
“Sell-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sell-off. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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