volatile

The word “volatile” means likely to change suddenly and unpredictably, especially for the worse. In plain terms, unstable and quick to change — whether that's a mood, a market, a chemical, or computer memory.

“Volatile” is pronounced VOL-uh-tyl (/ˈvɑ.lə.təl/ in IPA).

Here is “volatile” used in a sentence: “Stock prices were extremely volatile after the announcement.”

“Volatile” is an adjective.

The word “volatile” comes from Latin. From Latin volatilis, "flying," from volare, "to fly" — the idea of something that evaporates or changes as quickly as if it took flight.

“Volatile” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Volatile” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: likely to change suddenly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.

Volatile emphasizes sudden, unpredictable change, often for the worse, while unstable simply describes something lacking a firm or steady base. A volatile situation can flip abruptly with little warning, whereas something unstable may simply be prone to collapse or fail without necessarily being unpredictable.

In computing, volatile describes memory whose contents are erased once power is removed, such as RAM. This contrasts with non-volatile storage, like a hard drive or SSD, which retains data even when the power is switched off.

A volatile substance is one that evaporates quickly at normal temperatures, turning from liquid to gas with relative ease. This sense is common in chemistry and everyday contexts, such as describing volatile organic compounds found in paints and solvents.

Markets and emotions are called volatile when they are prone to sudden, unpredictable swings, especially negative ones. A volatile stock market can rise or fall sharply within a short period, and a volatile temper can flare up with little warning.