volatile

[vol-uh-tl, -til, -tahyl]

adjective

1. evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor.

   Acetone is a volatile solvent.

2. tending or threatening to break out into open violence; explosive.

   a volatile political situation.

   Synonyms: unsettled, unstable, eruptive

3. changeable; mercurial; flighty.

   a volatile disposition.

4. (of prices, values, etc.) tending to fluctuate sharply and regularly.

   volatile market conditions.

5. fleeting; transient.

   volatile beauty.

6. Computers.,  of or relating to storage that does not retain data when electrical power is turned off or fails.

7. able to fly or flying.

noun

1. a volatile substance, as a gas or solvent.

volatile

/ ˌvɒləˈtɪlɪtɪ, ˈvɒləˌtaɪl /

adjective

1. (of a substance) capable of readily changing from a solid or liquid form to a vapour; having a high vapour pressure and a low boiling point

2. (of persons) disposed to caprice or inconstancy; fickle; mercurial

3. (of circumstances) liable to sudden, unpredictable, or explosive change

4. lasting only a short time

   volatile business interests

5. computing (of a memory) not retaining stored information when the power supply is cut off

6. obsolete,  flying or capable of flight; volant

noun

1. a volatile substance

2. rare,  a winged creature

volatile

1. Changing easily from liquid to vapor at normal temperatures and pressures. Essential oils used in perfumes are highly volatile.

Other Word Forms

• volatileness noun
• volatility noun
• nonvolatility noun
• semivolatile adjective
• unvolatile adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of volatile¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin volātilis, equivalent to volāt(us) “flown,” past participle of volāre “to fly” + -ilis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of volatile¹

C17: from Latin volātīlis flying, from volāre to fly

Example Sentences

Underlying so-called "core" inflation, excluding volatile food and gas prices, also came in below expectations at 3.0 percent, the Labor Department said.

Read more on Barron's

Core CPI inflation—which excludes the more volatile food and energy costs—is expected to show slightly less pickup.

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Core CPI inflation—which excludes the more volatile food and energy costs—is expected to show slightly less pickup.

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Core CPI inflation—which excludes the more volatile food and energy costs—is expected to show slightly less pickup.

Read more on Barron's

Consumer inflation—excluding volatile fresh food prices—increased 2.9% in September from a year earlier, compared with August’s 2.7% rise, government data showed Friday.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• capricious 
• elusive 
• erratic 
• fickle 
• resilient 
• ticklish 
• unsettled 
• unstable