fluctuation

American  

[fluhk-choo-ey-shuhn] / ˌflʌk tʃuˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

fluctuations plural

1. continual change from one point or condition to another.

2. wavelike motion; undulation.

3. Genetics. a body variation due to environmental factors and not inherited.

---

fluctuation British  

/ ˌflʌktjʊˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. constant change; vacillation; instability

2. undulation

3. a variation in an animal or plant that is determined by environment rather than heredity

---

Usage

What does fluctuation mean? Fluctuation is continual change. It’s a noun form of the verb fluctuate, meaning to continually change or shift back and forth. Fluctuation is most commonly used in the context of abstract or intangible things that frequently change, such as temperature, the stock market, or someone’s mood. Example: The fluctuation of the volume on my TV is really annoying—it gets louder during commercials and then it gets quiet again when the show comes back on.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonfluctuation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fluctuations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fluctuation

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin fluctuātiōn- (stem of fluctuātiō ) a fluctuation, wavering. See fluctuate, -ion

Explanation

The noun fluctuation refers to the deviations along the path from one point to another. We see frequent fluctuations in the stock market, as prices go up or down, and also in the weather, which is always changing. The original form of the word fluctuation appeared as a mid-15th-century French word derived from the Latin fluctuationem, meaning "vacillation." The verb stem fluctuāre meant "to undulate," referring to waves, giving rise to the idea of change and movement that is at the heart of the word. It might help to remember that fluctuation has the same root as the word fluent, and to think of it as something flowing, with frequent change along the way.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fluctuation fluctuations

Whether the increased frequency of that specific type of high-pressure system is due to climate change or is just a "statistical fluctuation" is still a scientific debate, he said.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

But it introduces a new problem: too much fluctuation in your spending.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Meanwhile, Umansky notes that the housing market has seen an increase in activity since the start of 2026, pointing to the beginning of spring as peak homebuying season and the fluctuation in interest rates.

From MarketWatch ● May 22, 2026

There will be a small amount of fluctuation in every person's grey matter over time, but these results with a dip of nearly 5% are unexpected, Carmona says.

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

The fluctuation in the energy in the vacuum is the same thing as a fluctuation in the amount of mass.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

“Looking at the long-term picture, I don’t get caught up in daily market fluctuations or corrections,” Min said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

"The back-and-forth in monthly home sales activity, driven by mild fluctuations in mortgage rates, shows how sensitive home buyers are to affordability conditions," said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun in a statement.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Rather than acting independently, the particles appear to coordinate their behavior in a way that suppresses current fluctuations.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 8, 2026

In addition, worldwide income reporting, foreign account disclosures, currency fluctuations and transfer costs can make saving and investing more complicated and expensive.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026

Almost never does a commentator say that the market’s activity for the day or even the week was largely a result of random fluctuations.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Related Words

• variation