fluctuation
Americannoun
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fluctuations
plural
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continual change from one point or condition to another.
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wavelike motion; undulation.
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Genetics. a body variation due to environmental factors and not inherited.
noun
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constant change; vacillation; instability
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undulation
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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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing fluctuation
30 GRE Words Beginning with "E" and "F"
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Content Summary 4.2: Columbian Exchange and Atlantic Slavery
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Eyes Wide Open
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Their results suggest that the effort and restrictions required to minimize every glucose fluctuation could make it harder for some people to enjoy everyday activities.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026
This fluctuation is due in part to Bitcoin having no intrinsic value: Like gold, it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026
Even as propaganda, it was pretty dumb — never discounting for currency fluctuation, alternative sourcing or domestic capacity increases, to name a few counterindicators.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026
An actuarial approach, dividing a portfolio by remaining life expectancy, can be used but introduces too much spending fluctuation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
And Pomp, hearing of change, mentioned his experiments in the fluctuation of swamp-water in ditches, which he hath conducted in his idleness, but which speculations would do honor to one of our academicians.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Organic growth is a closely watched industry metric that strips out the effects of currency fluctuations, acquisitions and asset sales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Despite these fluctuations, Musk has solidly established himself as the wealthiest person in the world, both now and compared to previous eras.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
Elsewhere, defending champion Alcaraz overcame fluctuations in form to beat Jaume Munar and reach the Japan Open final.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
In an earlier study, the researchers showed that they could directly manipulate vacuum fluctuations by using a magnetic field to reversibly switch the Casimir force between attraction and repulsion.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 3, 2026
Connelly hadn’t informed James about Michael’s loss as his employer never bothered over routine fluctuations in the hands, but Terrance’s curiosity had made it a problem.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
