mutable

adjective

mu·​ta·​ble ˈmyü-tə-bəl 

1

: prone to change : inconstant

mutable opinions

2

a

: capable of change or of being changed

mutable laws

b

: capable of or liable to mutation

mutable vowels

a mutable gene

mutability

ˌmyü-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

mutably

ˈmyü-tə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• capricious
• changeable
• changeful
• fickle
• flickery
• fluctuating
• fluid
• inconsistent
• inconstant
• mercurial
• skittish
• temperamental
• uncertain
• unpredictable
• unsettled
• unstable
• unsteady
• variable
• volatile

Examples of mutable in a Sentence

the government's mutable economic policies

a politician with very mutable positions on all the issues

Recent Examples on the Web

As Pokémon evolve between various forms, so Mary proves mutable. —Lamorna Ash, The Dial, 6 May 2025

Jake Gyllenhaal plays Iago the adversary to Othello, and wears a more mutable palette for the play what were your choices behind that? —Aleah Wright, Essence, 23 Apr. 2025

The name also seems like an acknowledgment that Minecraft is too mutable an experience to really have a definitive cinematic version. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025

Many Geminis can attest to these concerns because the mutable sign takes on the energy of everyone around them. —Lisa Stardust, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin mutabilis, from mutare to change; akin to Old English mīthan to conceal, Sanskrit mināti he exchanges, deceives

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mutable

• computable
• disputable
• immutable
• imputable
• inscrutable
• unsuitable
• executable
• indisputable
• irrefutable
• substitutable
• suitable

Kids Definition

mutable

adjective

mu·​ta·​ble ˈmyüt-ə-bəl 

1

: likely to change often : inconstant

2

a

: capable of change

b

: able or likely to mutate

mutability

ˌmyüt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

mutable

adjective

mu·​ta·​ble ˈmyüt-ə-bəl 

1

: capable of change or of being changed in form, quality, or nature

2

: capable of or liable to mutation