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.
Martin W. Stockel et al.Examples of volatility in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pricing of options on volatility in the S&P 500 shows a spike in contracts that expire next November and December.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Anastasia Talley is tremendous as the Jackson matriarch, Katherine Jackson, who may be kinder and gentler but doesn’t entirely protect her child from her husband’s volatility and manipulations.
—Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2024
Other factors like slower economic growth, exchange rate volatilities and higher pay scrutiny in the U.K. add to the long list of barriers.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Apr. 2024
Revenues are prone to volatility, hinging on capital gains from investments, bonuses to executives and windfalls from new stock offerings, and notoriously difficult for the state to predict.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Finally, reviewing investment portfolios and rebalancing to a more conservative asset allocation can help protect nest eggs from market volatility in the golden years.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024
However, compared to more traditional investments such as government bonds and money market accounts, the precious metals market can be less predictable and more prone to volatility, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024
The lira’s volatility threatened the savings of its entire population.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
As Hines’ global chief investment officer, David Steinbach, told Fortune, the goal of the new platform is to help investors take advantage of the beginning of a new real estate cycle, meet specific risk/return objectives, and reduce portfolio volatility.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Anastasia Talley is tremendous as the Jackson matriarch, Katherine Jackson, who may be kinder and gentler but doesn’t entirely protect her child from her husband’s volatility and manipulations.
—Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2024
Other factors like slower economic growth, exchange rate volatilities and higher pay scrutiny in the U.K. add to the long list of barriers.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Apr. 2024
Revenues are prone to volatility, hinging on capital gains from investments, bonuses to executives and windfalls from new stock offerings, and notoriously difficult for the state to predict.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Finally, reviewing investment portfolios and rebalancing to a more conservative asset allocation can help protect nest eggs from market volatility in the golden years.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024
However, compared to more traditional investments such as government bonds and money market accounts, the precious metals market can be less predictable and more prone to volatility, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024
The lira’s volatility threatened the savings of its entire population.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
As Hines’ global chief investment officer, David Steinbach, told Fortune, the goal of the new platform is to help investors take advantage of the beginning of a new real estate cycle, meet specific risk/return objectives, and reduce portfolio volatility.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'volatility.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Volatility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volatility. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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