volatility

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noun vol·a·til·i·ty \ ˌvä-lə-ˈti-lə-tē \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of volatility

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.

Recent Examples of volatility from the Web

Helping to boost profits is the unusual phenomenon in which volatility in major currencies is exceeding that of emerging markets.

— katherine greifeld, Bloomberg.com, "The Most Lucrative Currency Strategy Is Nearly Fed Proof," 29 Aug. 2017
Able people have been turning down job offers, warned off by the president’s volatility.

— rich lowry, National Review, "Yes, Work for Trump," 22 Aug. 2017
Even a brief study of the history of the stock market reveals that, in the short term, there is a lot of (unpredictable) volatility.

— stewart welch, AL.com, "DOW 25,000? Why not?," 11 Aug. 2017
This isn’t just normal volatility confined to a single month, according to Neal Berger, the founder and chief investment officer of Eagle’s View Asset Management, a $500 million fund-of-funds that invests with 30 managers, half of them quants.

— bess levin, vanityfair.com, "Trump Donor Bob Mercer Goes Medieval on Jeff Flake," 9 Aug. 2017
This isn’t just normal volatility confined to a single month, according to Neal Berger, the founder and chief investment officer of Eagle’s View Asset Management, a $500 million fund-of-funds that invests with 30 managers, half of them quants.

— bess levin, The Hive, "Trump Donor Bob Mercer Drops a Bomb on Jeff Flake," 9 Aug. 2017
Even so, the toxicity and the volatility of vinyl cyanide on our planet means that few researchers have studied the potential of these compounds in forming vital membranes, Drake reports.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "Potential Ingredients for Life Found on Saturn’s Moon Titan," 28 July 2017
Now, in a reflection of the volatility of the film business and the precariousness of deal making with Chinese companies, Legendary is facing uncomfortable questions about its future.

— brooks barnes, New York Times, "Seesawing Fate of Legendary Reflects the Film Industry’s Volatility," 25 July 2017
Fears that the United States would abandon NAFTA have caused volatility in the markets for the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar, and talk of possible recessions.

— The Economist, "The outlines of NAFTA 2 emerge," 20 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'volatility.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.