ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fickle

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈfɪkəɫ// UK //fˈɪkəl// fick·le Dialect

adj. changing your mind or feelings very often and without a good reason. You use this to describe someone who is not loyal or something that is not reliable.

adj. characterised by erratic changeability in affections, interests, or loyalties. Often used to describe weather patterns, public opinion, or personal commitment.


SIMPLE

The weather here is very fickle.

CONTEXTUAL

Success in the fashion industry is difficult because consumer tastes are notoriously fickle and change every season.

COMPLEX

Politicians often struggle to maintain high approval ratings among a fickle electorate that quickly forgets past achievements when faced with immediate economic challenges.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English fikil, fikel, from Old English ficol (“fickle, cunning, tricky, deceitful”), equivalent to fike + -le. More at fike.

Etymology 2

From Middle English fikelen, from fikel (“fickle”); see above. Cognate with Low German fikkelen (“to deceive, flatter”), German ficklen, ficheln (“to deceive, flatter”).

Usage

Typically used as a predicative adjective after 'be' or 'become', or attributively before nouns like 'nature', 'weather', or 'fan'.

Idioms2 entries

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