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
If investors come to think that the central bank is going soft on inflation, there could be a big sell-off in the bond market. John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026 This willingness to continue buying on dips has kept the market sell-off in check. Fred Imbert, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Laporta responded to the crisis by deciding Barcelona could no longer afford Messi, who left for Paris Saint-Germain, and selling off some club assets, including 25% of its Spanish league TV rights for the next 25 years. ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026 Last week, sovereign bonds sold off across the board, with Europe as the epicenter. Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 15 Mar. 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 16 Mar. 2026.

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