volatility

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English volatile Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English volatility From volatile + -ity.

1. The state of being volatile.
2. The state of having a low boiling point and evaporating readily.
3. The state of not retaining data in the absence of power.
4. The state of being able to fly.
5. The state of being unpredictable.
6. A quantification of the degree of uncertainty about the future price of a commodity, share, or other financial product.

   “The recent volatility has come with the S&P 500 hovering just above bear market territory, or a 20 percent drop from its most recent high.”