sell-off

Sometimes sell·ing-off

[sel-awf, -of]

noun

1. Stock Exchange.,  a sudden and marked decline in stock or bond prices resulting from widespread selling.

2. an act or instance of liquidating assets or subsidiaries, as by divestiture.

sell off

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to sell (remaining or unprofitable items), esp at low prices

Word History and Origins

Origin of sell off¹

First recorded in 1935–40; noun use of verb phrase sell off

Idioms and Phrases

Get rid of by selling, often at reduced prices. For example, The jeweler was eager to sell off the last of the diamond rings. [c. 1700] Also see sell out, def. 1.

Example Sentences

“For the major indices, another encouraging sign that this sell-off is more of an unwind tied to monetary policy and liquidity is that earnings revisions breadth remains resilient,” Wilson added.

Read more on Barron's

It’s usually difficult to pinpoint a specific factor that’s caused a stock market sell-off.

Read more on MarketWatch

Tech firms led more steep losses across Asian markets Friday as investors struggled to shake off fears about an AI bubble and after a sell-off on Wall Street sparked by jobs data dealt a further blow to hopes for a US interest rate cut.

Read more on Barron's

The rush from risk assets also saw bitcoin fall below the $93,000 mark for the first time since April, extending a sell-off suffered since its record high above $126,200 touched just last month.

Read more on Barron's

“It is going to be in hindsight that we know if this sell-off is going to hurt the consumer,” said Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at One Point BFG.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• convert 
• pay off 
• quit 
• reimburse 
• repay