immutable

adjective

im·​mu·​ta·​ble (ˌ)i(m)-ˈmyü-tə-bəl How to pronounce immutable (audio)
: not capable of or susceptible to change
immutableness noun
immutably adverb

Did you know?

Immutable may describe something that is incapable of change, but the word itself—like all words—is mutable, both capable of and prone to alteration. To put a finer point on it, if language were fixed, we wouldn’t have immutable itself, which required a variety of mutations of the Latin verb mutare (“to change”) to reach our tongues (or pens, keyboards, or touchscreens—oh the many permutations of communication!). Other English words that can be traced back to mutare include mutate, transmute, and commute. Which reminds us—the mutability of language makes great food for thought during one’s commute.

Examples of immutable in a Sentence

the immutable laws of nature one of the immutable laws of television is that low ratings inevitably lead to cancellation
Recent Examples on the Web Such possibilities underscore a fundamental insight: Although the solar system’s present orderly architecture seems fixed and immutable to human reckoning, many of its details teeter at the edge of discord, with the ever present possibility of sudden, sweeping change. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2024 Moral and laws are not created out of the rub and wear of men and societies but are things innate, uncreated, immutable, absolute and simple; and human relations arise out of them. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for immutable 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immutable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin immutabilis, from in- + mutabilis mutable

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of immutable was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near immutable

Cite this Entry

“Immutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immutable. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

immutable

adjective
im·​mu·​ta·​ble (ˈ)im-ˈ(m)yüt-ə-bəl How to pronounce immutable (audio)
: impossible to change
immutably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on immutable

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