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

Trump’s imposition of the highest tariffs in generations shocked the world in April, triggering extreme volatility on Wall Street. —Yun Li, CNBC, 30 June 2025

News continues to drive market volatility, interest rates are holding, and the regulatory environment is evolving, but across sectors, one thing is clear - businesses that can scale their strengths are positioned to succeed. —Frank Sorrentino, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, remained elevated at 2.7%, with oil price volatility and tariffs likely to pose challenges in the long term. —Semafor Events, semafor.com, 30 June 2025

Manufacturers are adjusting supply chains and renegotiating contracts to manage price volatility. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 30 June 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