adjective

volatile

/ˈvɒlətaɪl/ · say it: VOL·uh·til

liable to change rapidly

In Describing & Comparing

In more detail

1. (adjective) likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly

2. (adjective) tending to become angry or violent easily

3. (adjective) (of a liquid or substance) turning into vapor easily, especially at room temperature

Examples

1. The stock market is very volatile right now, with prices going up and down constantly.
2. He has a volatile personality and can lose his temper quickly.
3. Gasoline is a volatile liquid that evaporates rapidly.

How to use volatile

Volatile is most commonly used in financial contexts to describe unpredictable price movements or in chemistry to describe substances that evaporate easily. When describing temperament, it suggests someone prone to sudden anger or mood changes. The term is more formal and technical than casual alternatives like 'unpredictable' or 'moody'.

Common phrases

volatile market
volatile situation
volatile personality
volatile compounds
volatile memories

Synonyms

unstable · unpredictable · explosive · changeable · temperamental

Opposites

stable · calm · predictable

Word family

volatility (noun) · volatilize (verb) · volatilely (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use volatile to mean simply 'active' or 'energetic' when they mean to describe something changeable or unstable; it always implies potential risk or danger, not just movement or activity.

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