volatility
noun
vol·a·til·i·ty
ˌvä-lə-ˈti-lə-tē 
plural volatilities
: the quality or state of being volatile: such as
a
: a tendency to change quickly and unpredictably
price volatility
the volatility of the stock market
b
: a tendency to erupt in violence or anger
the volatility of the region
the volatility of his temper
c
: the quality of being readily vaporizable at a fairly low temperature
As each component of crude oil has a different relative volatility, they will evaporate at different temperatures.—
Martin W. Stockel et al.
Martin W. Stockel et al.Examples of volatility in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Of course, that is less of a warning and more of a challenge to devotees of hazmat whiskey, a term that indicates that the liquid is bottled at more than 140 proof and deemed unsafe by the FAA to bring onboard aircraft due to its volatility.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2025
Hiring freezes, budget cuts, leadership reshuffles, and sudden project pauses all signal volatility.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Use the meeting-day volatility to rebalance toward your risk budget rather than chase the first move.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 29 Oct. 2025
War is a realm of chance, accident, and volatility over which its participants can only ever hope to work a small measure of influence, as Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace reminds us.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for volatility
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Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2025
Hiring freezes, budget cuts, leadership reshuffles, and sudden project pauses all signal volatility.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Use the meeting-day volatility to rebalance toward your risk budget rather than chase the first move.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 29 Oct. 2025
War is a realm of chance, accident, and volatility over which its participants can only ever hope to work a small measure of influence, as Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace reminds us.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for volatility
Cite this Entry
“Volatility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volatility. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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