Words / C1

VOL-uh-tyl/ˈvɒlətaɪl/

Volatile means likely to change suddenly and unpredictably; of a substance, easily becoming vapour: a volatile market, a volatile solvent. Unstable (already in the dictionary) is close; agile is a culture word, not cover.

Meaning

Likely to change suddenly and unpredictably; of a substance, easily becoming vapour.

Examples

• “A volatile night rota is a cover failure, not “agile culture”.”
• “Unstable is already in this course. Erratic is a cousin. Culture is a story. A hole on the grid is cover. Write the name; keep agile for the away-day.”

Good to know

Unpredictably changeable (also: easily vapourised). Close: unstable (already in the dictionary). Agile copy ≠ cover.

Near in meaning

unstable

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