一种物质的蒸气压也称作饱和蒸气压，指的是这种物质的气相与其非气相达到平衡状态时的压强。任何物质（包括液态与固态）都有挥发成为气态的趋势，其气态也同样具有凝聚为液态或者凝华为固态的趋势。在给定的温度下，一种物质的气态与其凝聚态（固态或液态）之间会在某一个压强下存在动态平衡。此时单位时间内由气态转变为凝聚态的分子数与由凝聚态转变为气态的分子数相等。这个压强就是此物质在此温度下的饱和蒸气压。蒸气压与物质分子脱离液体或固体的趋势有关。对于液体，从蒸气压高低可以看出蒸发速率的大小。具有较高蒸气压的物质通常说其具有挥发性。

Vapor pressure or equilibrium vapor pressure is defined as the pressure exerted by a vapor in thermodynamic equilibrium with its condensed phases (solid or liquid) at a given temperature in a closed system. The equilibrium vapor pressure is an indication of a liquid's evaporation rate. It relates to the tendency of particles to escape from the liquid (or a solid). A substance with a high vapor pressure at normal temperatures is often referred to as volatile. The pressure exhibited by vapor present above a liquid surface is known as vapor pressure. As the temperature of a liquid increases, the kinetic energy of its molecules also increases. As the kinetic energy of the molecules increases, the number of molecules transitioning into a vapor also increases, thereby increasing the vapor pressure.