flighty

[ flahy-tee ]

adjective

, flight·i·er, flight·i·est.

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

   Synonyms: undependable, irresponsible, 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.

flighty

/ ˈflaɪtɪ /

adjective

1. frivolous and irresponsible; capricious; volatile
2. mentally erratic, unstable, or wandering
3. flirtatious; coquettish

Derived Forms

• ˈflightiness, noun
• ˈflightily, adverb

Other Words From

• flighti·ly adverb
• flighti·ness noun
• un·flighty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flighty¹

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

Example Sentences

There have been any number of similar statements in recent years, claims that some people are simply too uninformed or flighty to be allowed to cast a ballot.

From Washington Post

Like many modern skis loaded with technology, it’s stable as hell when the sidecut is engaged but can get a little flighty when you run it straight.

From Outside Online

Fitness clubs have long relied on long-term membership agreements to prevent flighty customers from abandoning their New Year’s resolutions without a financial penalty.

From Fortune

During the last presidential debate, Neves went so far to refer to Rousseff as “flighty.”

From The Daily Beast

Plus, Joaquin spent the entirety of his last film falling in love with a flighty blonde who's tied to an technological device.

From The Daily Beast

Evan Rachel Wood stars as a flighty barista in ‘A Case of You,’ premiering at Tribeca.

From The Daily Beast

News and documentary production requires minute-by-minute decision-making—flighty ditherers need not apply.

From The Daily Beast

She grew up an orphan in Japanese internment camps and has a flighty streak.

From The Daily Beast

I never looked upon Hephzibah Wallis as flighty; in fact, she was undoubtedly the steadiest of all my girls.

From Project Gutenberg

Weve got to live somehow, and if you get a good job stick to it, say Inone of your highty flighty notions.

From Project Gutenberg

She is sweetly pretty, though they say rather a flirt, and flighty in her ways.

From Project Gutenberg

She was flighty and frivolous, evasive and obstinate, fond of pleasures not always innocent.

From Project Gutenberg

He did write to Mr. Wharton, but in doing so he altogether laid aside that flighty manner which for a while had annoyed her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• capricious
• giddy
• unstable