fluctuations
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌfɫəktʃuˈeɪʃənz// UK //flˌʌktʃuːˈeɪʃənz// fluc·tu·a·tions
n. changes in the level, amount, or quality of something. You use this when something goes up and down frequently instead of staying the same.
n. irregular shifts or variations in the level, value, or quantity of something. Often describes movements within a range rather than a single permanent change.
The price of gas shows daily fluctuations.
Investors are often warned to ignore short-term fluctuations in the stock market and focus on long-term growth.
Ecologists study seasonal fluctuations in local bird populations to determine how climate change might be altering traditional migration patterns over several decades.
Usage
Commonly used in the plural form to describe a series of changes; often followed by the preposition 'in'.