cerebral, peripatetic, viable, blatant, volatile: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Proficient Plus set 46. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. cerebral · adjective/ˈsɛrəbrəl/

   relating to the brain or intellect

   She preferred cerebral discussions about philosophy rather than simple gossip.

   Synonyms: intellectual, brainy, mental

   Origin: from Latin 'cerebralis', which comes from 'cerebrum' meaning 'brain'

2. peripatetic · adjective/ˌpɛrəpəˈtɛtɪk/

   travelling from place to place often for work or as a way of life

   The peripatetic teacher moved from town to town, sharing her knowledge with different students.

   Synonyms: nomadic, wandering, itinerant

   Origin: from Greek 'peripatetikos', meaning 'to walk up and down'

3. viable · adjective/ˈvaɪəbl/

   capable of working successfully or feasible

   The team presented a viable solution to the problem we were facing.

   Synonyms: feasible, workable, practical

   Origin: from Latin 'vita' meaning 'life'; 'viabilis' means 'able to live'.

4. blatant · adjective/ˈbleɪtənt/

   done openly and unashamedly

   His blatant disrespect for the rules got him into trouble at school.

   Synonyms: obvious, evident, flagrant

   Origin: from Latin 'blatans', present participle of 'blatāre' meaning 'to prattle, gossip, or blabber'

5. volatile · adjective/ˈvɑː.lə.tl/

   liable to change rapidly and unpredictably especially for the worse

   The stock market is very volatile, going up and down all the time.

   Synonyms: unstable, changeable, fickle

   Origin: from Latin 'volatilis' meaning 'flying' or 'capable of flying'