variable

[vair-ee-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. apt or liable to vary or change; changeable: variable moods.

   variable weather;

   variable moods.

   Antonyms: constant

2. capable of being varied or changed; alterable.

   a variable time limit for completion of a book.

3. inconstant; fickle.

   a variable lover.

   Synonyms: mercurial, unsteady, vacillating
   Antonyms: constant

4. having much variation or diversity.

5. Biology.,  deviating from the usual type, as a species or a specific character.

6. Astronomy.,  (of a star) changing in brightness.

7. Meteorology.,  (of wind) tending to change in direction.

8. Mathematics.,  having the nature or characteristics of a variable.

noun

1. something that may or does vary or change; a variable feature or factor.

2. Mathematics, Computers.

   1. a quantity or function that may assume any given value or set of values.

   2. a symbol that represents this.

3. Logic.,  (in the functional calculus) a symbol for an unspecified member of a class of things or statements.

4. Astronomy.,  variable star.

5. Meteorology.

   1. a shifting wind, especially as distinguished from a trade wind.

   2. variables, doldrums.

variable

/ ˈvɛərɪəbəl /

adjective

1. liable to or capable of change

   variable weather

2. (of behaviour, opinions, emotions, etc) lacking constancy; fickle

3. maths having a range of possible values

4. (of a species, characteristic, etc) liable to deviate from the established type

5. (of a wind) varying its direction and intensity

6. (of an electrical component or device) designed so that a characteristic property, such as resistance, can be varied

   variable capacitor

noun

1. something that is subject to variation

2. maths

   1. an expression that can be assigned any of a set of values

   2. a symbol, esp x, y, or z, representing an unspecified member of a class of objects, numbers, etc See also dependent variable independent variable

3. logic a symbol, esp x, y, z, representing any member of a class of entities

4. computing a named unit of storage that can be changed to any of a set of specified values during execution of a program

5. astronomy See variable star

6. a variable wind

7. (plural) a region where variable winds occur

variable

1. A mathematical quantity capable of assuming any of a set of values, such as x in the expression 3 x + 2.

2. A factor or condition that is subject to change, especially one that is allowed to change in a scientific experiment to test a hypothesis.

3. See more at control

Other Word Forms

• variability noun
• variableness noun
• variably adverb
• hypervariable adjective
• hypervariably adverb
• nonvariable adjective
• nonvariableness noun
• nonvariably adverb
• unvariable adjective
• unvariableness noun
• unvariably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of variable¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English, from Latin variābilis, equivalent to vari(us) “speckled, variegate, diverse” + -ābilis adjective suffix; various, -able

Word History and Origins

Origin of variable¹

C14: from Latin variābilis changeable, from variāre to diversify

Example Sentences

Customers on prepayment schemes - usually people on low incomes struggling to pay bills - used to pay a higher rate than others, but now they pay 3% less than the capped variable rate.

From BBC

There will be a north-easterly breeze in the east but light and variable winds will develop elsewhere as the area of high pressure sinks southwards.

From BBC

“There is a lot more they can do, and will have to do, as those imported supplies become even more variable and uncertain.”

From Los Angeles Times

The variable parking rate policy change that the San Diego City Council approved in June allows the city to charge as much as $20 an hour, but officials are starting with $10.

From Los Angeles Times

Getting a show on the air, however good, is hard work, and though talent is, of course, variable, no one sets out to make bad TV.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fickle 
• fluctuating www.thesaurus.com
• volatile 

When To Use

What is a variable?

In the context of scientific experiments, a variable is any factor that could change or be changed.So, for instance, if you’re measuring how effective a medication is, variables could include the amount of dosage, how frequently it’s taken, and the characteristics of each test subject, such as their age and weight. In general, variables are called variables because they vary. However, in scientific experiments, some variables are kept the same on purpose—such a variable is called a control variable (or sometimes simply just a control).There are three different types of variables: dependent variables, independent variables, and control variables. Independent variables are the factors that you change. Dependent variables are things that are affected by the changes that you make—the results of the tests (which depend on the independent variables). Control variables are the factors that you do not change. They are kept the same for every test or measurement in order to make sure that the results can be compared fairly.For example, let’s say you’re trying to figure out which brand of plant food will help a sunflower grow to the tallest height. The dependent variable is the final height of the sunflower. The independent variable (the factor that you change) is the brand of plant food. There are a number of other factors that could impact the growth of the plant, including things like the amount of sunlight and the amount of water. To allow for a proper comparison of the results, these need to be control variables—they need to be controlled, or kept the same. This way, you can have a greater degree of certainty that the final difference in heights (the dependent variable) is due to which food each sunflower received (the independent variable), not differences in sunlight or water.Properly setting the variables is crucial to scientifically sound experiments and studies.