# volatile

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈvɒl.əˌtaɪ.(ə)l/ · frequency rank #10,968

## Definitions
1. Evaporating or vaporizing readily under normal conditions.
2. Of a substance, explosive.
3. Of a price, variable or erratic.
4. Of a person, quick to become angry or violent.
5. Fickle.
6. Temporary or ephemeral.
7. Of a situation potentially violent.
8. Of a variable etc., having its associated memory immediately updated with any changes in value.
9. Of memory, whose content is lost when the computer is powered down.
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”).

## Common misspellings (11)
`ovlatile`, `vloatile`, `voaltile`, `volaitle`, `volatiel`, `volatille`, `volatlie`, `volattile`, `vollatile`, `voltaile`, `vvolatile`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/volatile