stop-loss

American  

[stop-laws, -los] / ˈstɒpˌlɔs, -ˌlɒs /

adjective

1. designed or planned to prevent continued loss, as a customer's order to a broker to sell a stock if its price declines to a specific amount.

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stop-loss British  

adjective

1. commerce of or relating to an order to a broker in a commodity or security market to close an open position at a specified price in order to limit any loss

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Etymology

Origin of stop-loss

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

“Gold has emerged as one of the more exposed assets, with the sell-off driven by long liquidation, stop-loss selling, and investors raising liquidity,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

Following tactics from YouTube videos, he has been day-trading S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures and sets stop-loss orders for when stocks he buys fall 1% to 2% below what he bought them for.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2026

He had always used stop-loss orders — instructions to sell when a stock dropped to a certain price — to prevent disastrous declines.

From New York Times • May 18, 2022

We have reason to believe that other HF’s will be implementing more stringent risk parameters, tighter VAR restrictions, and increased stop-loss discipline as well as profit taking to fund highly exposed positions.

From Reuters • Mar. 29, 2021

In the special instructions to our clients, we tell them when we think they can use a stop-loss order to advantage.

From Successful Stock Speculation by Butler, John James