Meaning & use
volubility
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountableformal
A tendency to talk easily, quickly and at length, with words flowing out in great quantity.
Grammar: Uncountable and formal: his volubility, not a volubility.
Patterns
- the volubility of someone
- with volubility
The salesman's volubility wore the customers down.
She was admired for her volubility at dinner parties.
His volubility vanished as soon as he stepped onto the stage.
Common combinations
- remarkable volubility
- She spoke with remarkable volubility about her trip.
- with great volubility
- He explained the rules with great volubility.
- marked by volubility
- The debate was marked by volubility and little substance.
- noted for his volubility
- The senator was noted for his volubility.
- torrent of volubility
- A torrent of volubility poured from the guide.
Synonyms and how they differ
- talkativeness
- Talkativeness is the everyday word, while volubility sounds more literary and stresses the fluent speed of talk.
- garrulity
- Garrulity suggests tedious, rambling talk about trivial matters, so it is harsher than volubility.
- loquacity
- Loquacity is a close formal synonym, but it is more rarely used.
- eloquence
- Eloquence means speaking persuasively and well, while volubility only means speaking a lot and fluently.
Opposites
Word family
- voluble adjective
- talking fluently and at length
- volubly adverb
- in a fluent, talkative way
- volubleness noun
- an older, rare form of volubility
Commonly confused: volubility or volatility? volubility or voluble / volume?
volubility vs volatility
Volatility means a tendency to change quickly or unpredictably, such as in markets, while volubility is about talking a lot.
volubility vs voluble / volume
Voluble describes talk, while volume refers to loudness or quantity.
Practice
The guide's ___ meant that tourists could hardly ask a question, so quickly did his words flow.
Choose one answer.
Volubility is a tendency to talk fluently and at length. Volatility is a similar-looking word meaning quick change, and does not describe talking.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “volubility”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.