sell-off

1 of 2

noun

: a usually sudden sharp decline in security prices accompanied by increased volume of trading

sell off

2 of 2

verb

sold off; selling off; sells off

intransitive verb

: to suffer a drop in prices

Examples of sell-off 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.
Noun
That sell-off, in turn, has caused other borrowing costs, like mortgage rates, to turn back upward despite the Federal Reserve’s ongoing interest rate cuts. Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024 However, those gains have come with some hurdles, including a summer sell-off as sentiment dampened over the payoff from AI. Samantha Subin, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Investors sold off bonds, causing the 10-year Treasury note yield to rise 17 basis points. Rob Wile, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024 Since then Christie’s sold off Sly Stallone’s GMC, which seems to have angered Patek CEO Thierry Stern. Sophie Furley, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sell-off 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1976, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sell-off was in 1976

Dictionary Entries Near sell-off

Cite this Entry

“Sell-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sell-off. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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