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

Oil prices tends to rise during times of heightened conflict or uncertainty, but are prone to wild swings on new developments and as traders try to profit from that volatility. — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 31 July 2026

Corporate executives need to assume that volatility will persist, rather than fade away—and use it to redesign their organizations. — Yasushi Sasaki, Fortune, 30 July 2026

The Labor Department's report Thursday also showed that the four-week moving average of weekly jobless claims, which softens some of the weekly volatility, fell by 5,000 to 202,750. — ABC News, 30 July 2026

Most of the $615 million in options premium was tied to puts Wednesday, but traders looked more likely to sell that volatility than buy it. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 30 July 2026

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