volatile

1 of 2

adjective

vol·​a·​tile ˈvä-lə-tᵊl How to pronounce volatile (audio)
 especially British  -ˌtī(-ə)l
1
a
: characterized by or subject to rapid or unexpected change
a volatile market
b
: unable to hold the attention fixed because of an inherent lightness or fickleness of disposition
2
a
: tending to erupt into violence : explosive
a volatile temper
b
: easily aroused
volatile suspicions
3
: readily vaporizable at a relatively low temperature
4
: difficult to capture or hold permanently : evanescent, transitory
5
: flying or having the power to fly
volatileness noun

volatile

2 of 2

noun

: a substance that is readily vaporizable at relatively low temperature : a volatile substance

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The History of Volatile Is for the Birds

Volatile was originally for the birds—quite literally. Back in the 14th century, the word was a noun and volatiles were birds (especially wild fowl) or other winged creatures, such as butterflies. That's not as flighty as it sounds. Volatile traces back to the Latin verb volare, which means “to fly.” By the end of the 16th century, people were using volatile as an adjective to describe meal ground so fine and light that it could easily “fly” or be blown about. Soon after, the adjective was extended to creatures that were capable of flying (as in “volatile insects”), later to vapors and gases, and by the early 17th century, to individuals or things as prone to sudden change as some gaseous substances. In recent years, volatile has alighted in economic, political, and technical contexts far flown from its avian origins.

Examples of volatile in a Sentence

Adjective I am beginning to hear investors say that the best way to beat this volatile market is by trading—anxiously moving in and out of securities as the market ebbs and flows. In my view there is no surer path to the poorhouse. John W. Rogers, Jr., Forbes, 25 May 2009
Usually, only a few of the volatile chemicals in a fragrance are obviously noticeable to human noses. Ivan Amato, Science News, 24 Sept. 2005
VOCs (or volatile organic compounds) are thought to be among the potential culprits behind illnesses often lumped under the heading of Sick Building Syndrome. Scott Schilling, This Old House, March 2005
… it was Elvis who represented rock and roll at its unblushing, volatile best; he was its first master and the embodiment of every reason that adolescents of the postwar years turned to it in favor of the cheerfully torpid pop music … to which their parents were listening. David Hajdu, New York Review of Books, 9 Oct. 2003
When left unused, make-up has a tendency to dry out because any water or other volatile substances it contains evaporate. Barry Fox, New Scientist, 9 Aug. 2003
The stock market can be very volatile. She is a volatile woman. The protests are increasing, creating a volatile situation in the capital.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
But for that, there’s a lot of information: particulates, temp, CO2, humidity, volatile compounds, outdoor air quality index, hoo-boy. Simon Hill, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024 Set along a volatile stretch of the Colombia-Venezuela border in 2010, the engrossing eye opener revolves around gas smugglers and always feels real and raw. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
One hypothesis suggests that the volatiles may mimic signals associated with food or potential mates, enticing the males to investigate further. Scott Travers, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024 The more interesting kinds of ices on Pluto are made up of volatiles: methane, nitrogen and carbon monoxide. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for volatile 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

French, from Latin volatilis, from volare to fly

First Known Use

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1686, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of volatile was in 1605

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Dictionary Entries Near volatile

Cite this Entry

“Volatile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volatile. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

volatile

adjective
vol·​a·​tile
ˈväl-ət-ᵊl
1
: easily becoming a vapor at a fairly low temperature
a volatile solvent
2
: likely to change suddenly or quickly
a volatile temper
the stock market is volatile
volatility
ˌväl-ə-ˈtil-ət-ē
noun

Medical Definition

volatile

1 of 2 noun
vol·​a·​tile
ˈväl-ət-ᵊl, especially British -ə-ˌtīl
: a volatile substance

volatile

2 of 2 adjective
: readily vaporizable at a relatively low temperature
volatility noun
plural volatilities

More from Merriam-Webster on volatile

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