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Added 10 October 2026

volatile

/ˈvɒl.əˌtaɪl/ adjective

Latin root: volātilis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about volatile at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Evaporating or vaporizing readily under normal conditions.
Of a substance, explosive.
Of a price, variable or erratic.

noun

A chemical or compound that changes into a gas easily.
A variable that is volatile, i.e. has its associated memory immediately updated with any change in value.

Origin

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

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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