volatility.

1. A tendency toward sudden, unpredictable changes in mood, conditions, or behavior.

2. The degree or tendency of a financial price or return to fluctuate over time.

3. The tendency of a substance to enter the vapor phase under given conditions.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• emotional volatility
• political volatility

On the page

His volatility kept the staff listening for changes in the rhythm of his steps.

Political volatility made yesterday’s assurances worthless by morning.

Usage notes

Primary category: psychological / character. Forms: Usually uncountable. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.