volatility

noun

vol·​a·​til·​i·​ty ˌvä-lə-ˈti-lə-tē How to pronounce volatility (audio)
plural volatilities
Synonyms of volatility
: 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.

Examples of volatility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There can be some volatility in aging curves, especially at this point in a player’s career. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 2 July 2026 After mortgage interest rates declined by around a full percentage point in 2025, volatility in this space in the first half of the year erased much of that decline. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Geopolitical and economic volatility are pushing resilience higher up the agenda. — Arungalai Anbarasu, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Still, The Asia Group argues that China is well-positioned to weather further macroeconomic volatility. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for volatility

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of volatility was in 1626

Rhymes for volatility

See All Rhymes for volatility

Browse Nearby Words

volatilise
volatility
volatilizable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Volatility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volatility. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on volatility

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for volatility

Nglish: Translation of volatility for Spanish Speakers

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