flüchtige

Flüchtige is a German term with several related meanings. When capitalized as Flüchtige, it functions as a plural noun meaning people who flee from authorities or danger—fugitives or escapees. The singular forms are der Flüchtige (masculine) and die Flüchtige (feminine); the plural is die Flüchtigen. In legal, police, and news contexts, Flüchtige refers to individuals who are avoiding arrest or prosecution.

As an adjective, flüchtig means fleeting, transient or not lasting long. It can describe memories, impressions or appearances, as in ein flüchtiger Blick (a fleeting glance) or eine flüchtige Erinnerung (a fleeting memory). In science and everyday usage, the term also appears in the sense of volatility, especially in chemistry, where flüchtige Stoffe are volatile substances that evaporate easily. The corresponding noun is Flüchtigkeit, meaning volatility or ephemerality.

Usage and nuance: Flüchtige as a noun emphasizes the social and legal status of a person who has fled or evaded pursuit. Fließend between senses, the term highlights the contrast between something that endures versus something temporary or evaporative. In scientific prose, Flüchtigkeit is a standard term for a substance’s tendency to vaporize under given conditions. In everyday language, flüchtig often describes impressions or memories as short-lived.

Etymology: Flüchtige derives from flüchten, meaning to flee, with the noun form built from the agent noun or as a nominalized adjective. The related noun Flucht denotes the act of fleeing or flight, and Flüchtigkeit denotes the quality of being volatile or ephemeral.