Definition
Changing often and unpredictably, especially in feelings or loyalty; not reliable or consistent.
Example
The fickle weather ruined our plans for a picnic.
Show translation
The weather, which changes unpredictably, ruined our plans for a picnic.
Etymology
From Middle English *fikel*, meaning "deceitful, treacherous," from Old English *ficol* ("cunning, tricky"). Related to the Old English verb *befician* ("to deceive"). The word shifted over centuries from active deceitfulness to the broader sense of unreliable changeability.
Cultural note
*Fickle* is especially common in discussions of sports fans ("fair-weather fans"), romantic partners, or public opinion. The phrase "fickle finger of fate" (popularized by a 1960s American TV comedy show) is a set expression meaning luck or fortune that shifts unpredictably. In literature, Fortune herself is often personified as fickle — Shakespeare uses the concept repeatedly across his plays.