flighty

[ flahy-tee ]

adjective

, flight·i·er, flight·i·est.

1. given to flights flight of fancy; capricious; frivolous.

   Synonyms: undependable, irresponsible, mercurial

2. slightly delirious; light-headed; mildly crazy.
3. irresponsible:

   He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.

4. Archaic. swift or fleet.

flighty

/ ˈflaɪtɪ /

adjective

1. frivolous and irresponsible; capricious; volatile
2. mentally erratic, unstable, or wandering
3. flirtatious; coquettish

Derived Forms

• ˈflightiness, noun
• ˈflightily, adverb

Other Words From

• flighti·ly adverb
• flighti·ness noun
• un·flighty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flighty¹

First recorded in 1545–55; flight ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Polls can be just as flighty, and in fact, a Pew Research Center poll in early October gave Trump a 51%-47% lead among seniors, concluding that “Trump is favored among older voters and men; Harris performs better among younger voters, women.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Today’s young women know that neurotic isn’t cute. Cute isn’t cute. Neither is flustered, madcap, zany, flighty, flaky, harried or hapless - all adjectives that apply to Bridget."

From BBC

Wrens "are very flighty," he says with a laugh.

From BBC

What’s the problem with “abortion on demand”? Although the phrase was actually used by abortion advocates in the years leading up to Roe, it’s since become a right-wing talking point that is designed to make women seem flighty and careless when they seek abortions.

From Slate

This infuriated the same general ilk of slightly older feminists who later went apoplectic over Bernie in 2015, including a Brandeis professor named Linda Hirshman, who in 2008 wrote a column about how my generation of feminists had “ignobly” abandoned hers, essentially because we were flighty and spoiled.

From Slate

Related Words

• capricious
• giddy
• unstable