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

On Robust Earnings Reports—As Microsoft Reclaims Crown As World’s Largest Company In the face of increasing economic volatility, C-suite leaders across industries are looking to add and deliver value in new ways. —Muqsit Ashraf, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

The firm flagged short-term volatility in its business caused by tariffs and trade curbs in March. —Shashwat Chauhan and Medha Singh, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025

This policy mix, many economists say, is contributing to economic volatility and investor hesitation. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

That kind of volatility, which has rattled financial markets and paralyzed businesses, simply wasn’t present under any other administration in history. —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025

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