random walk
This term originates from mathematics and physics to describe a stochastic process. In technical contexts, it refers to a precise mathematical model where the direction of each step is determined by a random variable, often used to study diffusion or Brownian motion.
In finance and economics, the term is used as a conceptual framework to argue that stock market prices evolve unpredictably. When applied this way, it suggests that past price movements cannot be used to predict future movements, implying that the market is efficient and movements are essentially noise.
Meanings
A mathematical object that describes a path consisting of a succession of random steps on some mathematical space.
The physicist used a random walk model to simulate the diffusion of particles in a liquid.