volatile

/ˈvɒl.əˌtaɪ.(ə)l/

//ˈvɒl.əˌtaɪ.(ə)l// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"volatile" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“volatile” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #10,968 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#10,968
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Evaporating or vaporizing readily under normal conditions.

Key facts for volatile
PropertyValue
Headwordvolatile
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈvɒl.əˌtaɪ.(ə)l/
Letters8
Frequency rank#10,968
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “volatile” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). volatile lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for volatile is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈvɒl.əˌtaɪ.(ə)l/. Corpus data places it at rank #10,968 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for volatile, with forms such as "ovlatile", "vloatile", and "voaltile". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French volatile, from Latin volātilis (“flying; swift; temporary; volatile”), from volō (“to fly”). The correct English form is volatile, spelled V-O-L-A-T-I-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Evaporating or vaporizing readily under normal conditions.
  2. 2
    Of a substance, explosive.
  3. 3
    Of a price, variable or erratic.
  4. 4
    Of a person, quick to become angry or violent.
  5. 5
    Fickle.
  6. 6
    Temporary or ephemeral.
  7. 7
    Of a situation potentially violent.
  8. 8
    Of a variable etc., having its associated memory immediately updated with any changes in value.
  9. 9
    Of memory, whose content is lost when the computer is powered down.
  10. 10
    Passing through the air on wings, or by the buoyant force of the atmosphere; flying; having the power to fly.

Etymology

From Middle French volatile, from Latin volātilis (“flying; swift; temporary; volatile”), from volō (“to fly”).

This word in other languages

volátil(Español)volatil(Français)volatil(Deutsch)volátil(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ovlatile,vloatile,voaltile,volaitle,volatiel,volatille,volatlie,volattile,vollatile,voltaile,vvolatile

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of volatile - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ovlatile2vloatile2voaltile2volaitle2volatiel2volatille1volatlie2volattile1
Edit distance from "volatile"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "volatile"?
"volatile" is spelled V-O-L-A-T-I-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈvɒl.əˌtaɪ.(ə)l/.
What does "volatile" mean?
As an adjective, "volatile" means: Evaporating or vaporizing readily under normal conditions.
What are common misspellings of "volatile"?
Common misspellings include "ovlatile", "vloatile", "voaltile", "volaitle", "volatiel". The correct spelling is "volatile".
How do you pronounce "volatile"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "volatile" is /ˈvɒl.əˌtaɪ.(ə)l/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "volatile"?
From Middle French volatile, from Latin volātilis (“flying; swift; temporary; volatile”), from volō (“to fly”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “volatile”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is V-O-L-A-T-I-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈvɒl.əˌtaɪ.(ə)l/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list