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

OTTAWA—Senior Bank of Canada policymakers were reluctant to predict whether the next change in interest rates would be up or down, citing volatile data and elevated trade-policy uncertainty, according to minutes published Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal

Russian private military contractors in the Central African Republic told AFP they took any threats to the upcoming elections in the volatile country "extremely seriously" and were ready to "repel any provocations".

From Barron's

A measure that tracks demand from businesses and consumers—but not more volatile government, inventory and international trade data—ticked up slightly in the third quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

U.S. natural gas futures settled lower in volatile trade, picking up from early lows after midday weather forecasts added some cold to the outlook that had already turned colder over the weekend.

From The Wall Street Journal

Quantum stocks have been volatile enough to concern shareholders’ cardiologists.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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