flighty

American  

[flahy-tee] / ˈflaɪ ti /

adjective

flightier, flightiest

1. given to flights flight of fancy; capricious; frivolous.

   Synonyms:

   irresponsible, undependable, mercurial

2. slightly delirious; light-headed; mildly crazy.

3. irresponsible.

   He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.

4. Archaic. swift or fleet.

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flighty British  

/ ˈflaɪtɪ /

adjective

1. frivolous and irresponsible; capricious; volatile

2. mentally erratic, unstable, or wandering

3. flirtatious; coquettish

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Other Word Forms

• flightily adverb
• flightiness noun
• unflighty adjective

Etymology

Origin of flighty

First recorded in 1545–55; flight ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

That mix “made our deposits a bit more flighty. It’s a little easier to move large chunky commercial deposits,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

One insider who has been part of conversations about the chances of changing the leader says, "it's not flighty people, not just newbies without a clue, they're not idiots".

From BBC

But it also turns him into a lonely, rigidly neoclassicist oddball who scorns his professors, prefers books to his flighty peers and still can’t seem to take care of himself.

From Los Angeles Times

When she returned for Season 3, she was slightly more magnanimous and less flighty, trying her best to achieve harmony with the rest of the cast.

From Salon

"Today’s young women know that neurotic isn’t cute. Cute isn’t cute. Neither is flustered, madcap, zany, flighty, flaky, harried or hapless - all adjectives that apply to Bridget."

From BBC

Related Words

• capricious
• giddy
• unstable