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

Studies by Princeton University and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory showed that current price volatility for electricity will continue to increase as more forms of renewable energy come online, indicating that the economic benefits of the application will persist or grow in the future. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025

Many of these women are funneled into caregiving, hospitality, food service, and domestic work—sectors that are undervalued, underpaid, and highly exposed to volatility. —Katica Roy, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025

Tech and chip sectors could see near-term volatility amid ongoing trade talks, according to Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, global head of equities at UBS. —John Towfighi, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025

The rare, direct foreign intervention, which will take the form of a currency swap, is aimed at boosting a collapsing peso and calming market volatility ahead of Argentina’s midterm elections later this month. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 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