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.

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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

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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

Finally, the El Nino event, a natural climate fluctuation that warms temperatures and leads to changes in wind patterns, is proving stronger than expected this year.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

According to preliminary data from Flightradar24, a flight-tracking platform, the plane recorded a sharp fluctuation in altitude before a steep descent.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

According to Margolis, the smaller trim size was previously the industry standard for U.S.-based publishing houses, and any fluctuation is due to the evolution of printing technology.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

Perhaps the universe is just a quantum fluctuation on a grand scale—an enormous singular particle that came into existence out of the ultimate vacuum.

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

These technologies generate electricity, when planned and coordinated together, and they can relieve stress on the grid, reduce peak demand and respond to fluctuations in milliseconds through advanced battery controls and smart inverter technology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 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

Given the dollar’s centrality within the global financial system, fluctuations in the currency’s value are likely to have spillover effects in other markets.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

Now combine this with the natural fluctuations of women's hormones, which already put our brain's temperature regulation systems "out of kilter", according to Dr Arif.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

The cable was erected in 1970 to chart the Teklanika’s seasonal fluctuations; hydrologists traveled back and forth above the river by means of an aluminum basket that is suspended from the cable with pulleys.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• variation