volatile

[ vol-uh-tl, -tilor, especially British, -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

/ ˈvɒləˌtaɪl; ˌvɒləˈtɪlɪtɪ /

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

/ vŏl′ə-tl /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈvolatileness, noun

Other Words From

• vol·a·til·i·ty [vol-, uh, -, til, -i-tee], vola·tile·ness noun
• nonvol·a·tili·ty noun
• semi·vola·tile adjective
• un·vola·tile 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

Without government backing, bitcoin's price is highly volatile.

From Ars Technica

Yes, accepting such a volatile currency for payment is a GAAP accounting nightmare.

From Fortune

Over three of the stock’s most volatile trading days, GameStop shares changed hands 554 million times — more than 11 times the number of total shares available.

From Washington Post

Methane, for example, consists of a single carbon atom linked to four hydrogen atoms and is extremely volatile.

From Popular-Science

Diseases will likely manifest themselves by the presence of multiple volatile molecules—a cocktail of them, Koulakov thinks, so here rodents’ abilities would be particularly helpful.

From Nautilus

Visibly affected the by military atmosphere the young man admitted his emotions were volatile.

From The Daily Beast

Pryor had yet to become the volatile social satirist who unnerved white industry executives and delighted black audiences.

From The Daily Beast

But politics are volatile in Ukraine and Opposition Bloc is pushing hard.

From The Daily Beast

In the volatile southern province of Kandahar, for instance, an innovative school for teenage girls will soon close its doors.

From The Daily Beast

Living as they do in the heart of the volatile Caucasus, Georgians are only too aware of the fires that surround them.

From The Daily Beast

The atmosphere of the earth is composed mainly of very volatile elements, known as nitrogen and argon.

From Project Gutenberg

The nurse brought her sal volatile, and washed the small cut above her eyebrow.

From Project Gutenberg

I had fears that I might find you alone in a darkened room, with tear-stained eyes and sal-volatile by your side.

From Project Gutenberg

Caermarthen's eldest son—bold and volatile, fond of the sea, and living much among sailors—had a small yacht of marvellous speed.

From Project Gutenberg

A volatile oil, used to keep away insects from textiles, is obtained from the leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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