var·i·able
ˈver-ē-ə-bəl
1
a
: able or apt to vary : subject to variation or changes
variable winds
variable costs
b
: fickle, inconstant
2
: characterized by variations
3
: having the characteristics of a variable
4
: not true to type : aberrant
—used of a biological group or character
1
a
: a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values
b
: a symbol representing a variable
2
a
: something that is variable
b
: a factor in a scientific experiment that may be subject to change
3
Cite this Entry
“Variable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/variable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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