ENGLISH
REFERENCE

vol

n.
vol
  1. 1 a book volume (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    Stands for Volume. You see this in libraries or on bookshelves to show which part of a series a book is.

    Abbreviation for Volume. Used in bibliographic citations and on book spines to denote a specific book within a larger series or collection.

    Example

    The encyclopedia was so large that I had to look in Vol. 4 to find the information.

    Example

    The researcher noted that the relevant data appeared in Vol. 12 of the historical archives, specifically within the appendix.

    Usage

    Usually written with a capital 'V' and followed by a period in formal citations.
  2. 2 market volatility (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Informal Finance

    a short way to say 'volatility', which means how much prices in the stock market go up and down.

    a clipping of volatility, referring to the rate at which the price of a security or market increases or decreases.

    Example

    Traders were worried because the vol in the tech sector was very high this week.

    Example

    The portfolio manager adjusted the hedge after a sudden spike in equity vol threatened the fund's risk parameters.

    Usage

    Commonly used as an uncountable noun in professional trading environments.
  3. 3 sports team member (n.)
    C2 Proficiency American English Informal Dialect Sport

    a nickname for a player on the Tennessee Volunteers college sports teams.

    a clipping of Volunteer, specifically referring to an athlete or student at the University of Tennessee.

    Example

    The stadium was full of fans cheering for the Vols during the big game.

    Example

    As a former Vol himself, the coach felt a deep connection to the university's athletic traditions and recruitment efforts.

    Teacher's tip

    This is highly specific to American college sports culture; outside of that context, it will not be understood.
Etymology 1

From French vol (“flight; vol”).

Etymology 2

Clipping.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026