fluctuation
noun
fluc·tu·a·tion
ˌflək-chə-ˈwā-shən 
-chü-ˈā-
plural fluctuations
: an act or instance of fluctuating : an irregular shifting back and forth or up and down in the level, strength, or value of something
Small fluctuations in prices are to be expected.
Some fluctuation in real estate values is not unusual.
North American species in general, having contended with blazing July days and frosty September nights as they evolved, are much more tolerant of temperature fluctuations than tropical species are.—
Jonathan Franzen
Jonathan Franzen
Examples of fluctuation in a Sentence
political instability that resulted in wild fluctuations in the overseas stock markets
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists were able to estimate the strength of the Carrington Event based on the fluctuations of Earth's magnetic field as recorded by observatories at the time.
—David Wallace, CBS News, 14 May 2024
Intense solar activity sent bursts of radiation toward Earth, causing fluctuations in the upper atmosphere that led to disruptions in the power grid and radio blackouts, among other technologies and infrastructure.
—Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 May 2024
The report analyzed over 44,000 different flights over the course of four weeks to determine the price fluctuations.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2024
Google’s parent company reported strong revenue growth in its latest quarter from its search engine and video platform, YouTube, as its market-leading position in online advertising continued to reap rewards despite recent industry fluctuations.
—Tripp Mickle, New York Times, 8 May 2024
As sound hits the sensor, the vibrations cause deformations in its beam, and the fluctuations in the voltage resistance are then translated into electrical signals.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 May 2024
To get a better look, experts enlisted JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to measure extremely small fluctuations in the brightness emitted by the WASP-43 system every 10 seconds for over 24 hours.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 May 2024
Weight fluctuations, themselves ,may increase a person’s risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, according to multiple studies.
—Cole Kazdin, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Still, marketers watching the fluctuations in their industry may want to proactively respond to the forces underlying these shifts and rethink their career paths.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
David Wallace, CBS News, 14 May 2024
Intense solar activity sent bursts of radiation toward Earth, causing fluctuations in the upper atmosphere that led to disruptions in the power grid and radio blackouts, among other technologies and infrastructure.
—Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 May 2024
The report analyzed over 44,000 different flights over the course of four weeks to determine the price fluctuations.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2024
Google’s parent company reported strong revenue growth in its latest quarter from its search engine and video platform, YouTube, as its market-leading position in online advertising continued to reap rewards despite recent industry fluctuations.
—Tripp Mickle, New York Times, 8 May 2024
As sound hits the sensor, the vibrations cause deformations in its beam, and the fluctuations in the voltage resistance are then translated into electrical signals.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 May 2024
To get a better look, experts enlisted JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to measure extremely small fluctuations in the brightness emitted by the WASP-43 system every 10 seconds for over 24 hours.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 May 2024
Weight fluctuations, themselves ,may increase a person’s risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, according to multiple studies.
—Cole Kazdin, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Still, marketers watching the fluctuations in their industry may want to proactively respond to the forces underlying these shifts and rethink their career paths.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fluctuation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fluctuation
Cite this Entry
“Fluctuation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fluctuation. Accessed 19 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
fluctuation
noun
fluc·tu·a·tion
ˌflək-chə-ˈwā-shən
1
: a motion like that of waves
especially
: the wavelike motion of a fluid collected in a natural or artificial cavity of the body observed by palpation or percussion
2
a
: a slight and nonheritable variation
especially
: such a variation occurring in response to environmental factors
b
: recurrent and often more or less cyclic alteration (as of form, size, or color of a bodily part)
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