Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Volatility
noun
/ vol-uh-TIL-ih-tee /
Medium
Meaning
Liability to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse — used of financial markets, political situations, prices, or emotions
Origin / Etymology
Latin volatilis — flying, fleeting (volare = to fly)
Synonyms
Instability
Fluctuation
Turbulence
Unpredictability
Antonyms
Stability
Steadiness
Predictability
Example Sentence
"The US-Iran conflict increased oil price volatility, threatening India's fiscal calculations given its 85% crude import dependence."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Essential for economy answers on currency markets (rupee volatility), commodity prices (oil price volatility), capital flows (FII volatility), and political context (regime volatility in West Asia). Also used in context of climate — 'rainfall volatility under climate change'. More precise than 'instability' or 'changing prices' in formal answers.
Relevant Subjects