volatility
Americannoun
Explanation
Volatility is the trait of being excitable and unpredictable. Your volatility might ultimately be the thing that makes you unsuitable as a preschool teacher. The noun volatility is the characteristic of changing often and unpredictably. Your sister's volatility might be shown in how quickly she switches from laughing to crying. If you talk about the volatility of the stock market, stock prices are most likely fluctuating wildly. In chemistry, volatility means the speed with which a substance changes from solid to liquid, liquid to vapor, and so on. The root is the Latin volatilis, "fleeting, transitory, flying."
Vocabulary lists containing volatility
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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.
The supply deluge and volatility this year have pressured investment-grade AI corporate bonds, which have been trading at a large premium to the rest of the market.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
“As we navigate heightened macro uncertainties and ongoing volatility, our conviction in building a deeper and more diverse multi-asset ecosystem has only strengthened.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
For example, know early on whether you’ll be panicking about losses during a downturn, or if you can stomach volatility well into your retirement years.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
“In our view, this could fuel even additional volatility amid lack of visibility,” the analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
The overcrowding lent a sense of chaos and volatility.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
