Definition of Market Order
An order to buy or sell immediately at the best available current price. Market orders guarantee execution but not a specific price, especially during volatile conditions.
At a glance
Term
Market Order
URL slug
market-order
Category
Orders & execution
Short answer
An order to buy or sell immediately at the best available current price.
Deep dives
Full A–Z glossary
Example
Example: a buy limit below market does not guarantee a fill if price never prints at your limit. Choose “Market Order” based on price priority versus fill priority.
Common mistake
Common mistake: using “Market Order” as loose slang while your broker/platform specification defines it more narrowly.
Professional tip
Tip: bookmark this “Market Order” page and reopen it when reading broker specs so definitions stay consistent.
Practice tools:
Related terms
FAQ
An order to buy or sell immediately at the best available current price.
Order type and fill behaviour around “Market Order” decide whether entries and stops execute near the price you planned.
Common mistake: using “Market Order” as loose slang while your broker/platform specification defines it more narrowly.