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What Is Market Order?

Definition and plain-English explanation of "Market Order"

Market Order — Trading illustration

A market order is an instruction to buy or sell a security immediately at the best currently available price. It guarantees execution but not price — in volatile markets, you may get a price significantly different from what you expected (called slippage). Market orders are best used for highly liquid stocks and when speed of execution matters more than exact price.

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Market Navigator Glossary — plain-English definitions of 93+ investing and crypto terms. All content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.