volatile

American  

[vol-uh-tl, -til, -tahyl] / ˈvɒl ə tl, -tɪl, -ˌtaɪl /

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.

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noun

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

volatile British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a volatile substance

2. rare a winged creature

volatile Scientific  

/ vŏl′ə-tl /

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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of volatile

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

Example Sentences

Potassium is considered a moderately volatile element, meaning it can partially evaporate under extreme heat.

From Science Daily

“There are the ones that are levered and volatile, and the ones that are just set-it-and-forget-it.”

From MarketWatch

For Charles Dow, the volatile financial landscape around the turn of the 20th century largely reflected business cycles that drove ebbs and flows in corporate profits.

From The Wall Street Journal

Oil prices could remain volatile for some time yet.

From Barron's

The latest meltdown shows how holding on to such volatile assets can come at a steep cost.

From Barron's

Related Words

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