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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
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Adjective
The winds were light and variable.
The loan has a variable interest rate.
Noun
unemployment and other economic variables
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicholas Wallace, Car and Driver, 21 Mar. 2023
Milton Friedman famously found that the time lags are long and variable.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023
Like the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, these premium models share support for variable refresh rates of up to 120Hz.
—Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 14 Mar. 2023
Monetary policy operates with long and variable lags.
—Jason Furman, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2023
The front is dominated by a 2,800-by-1,752-pixel display with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, while the insides are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset, 128GB storage, and 6GB RAM.
—PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2023
Some of the data taken included information on salaries and variable compensation between 2013 and 2015, as well as bank account information used for salary payments, the person said, asking not to be named discussing the confidential matter.
—Sally Bakewell, Bloomberg.com, 14 Feb. 2023
Avocado production is highly variable in the region.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Feb. 2023
Power starts with a hybrid setup comprised of a 2.5-liter engine mated to an electrical motor and CVT (continuously variable transmission).
—Dallas News, 21 Jan. 2023
Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2023
What Tua may not know is that the concussion protocol is imperfect and is not the only variable to consider when deciding whether to return this season.
—Tara Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Dec. 2022
Heat isn’t the only variable here either: A change in acidity from, say, adding a big squeeze of lemon juice to your simmering broth, might also promote coagulation.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 20 Nov. 2022
The offense was the variable in the equation, the defense the constant.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2022
Another variable: connecting flights and the weather at intermediate airports.
—Peter Greenberg, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2022
Even Sinema was bracing for another variable, which is arcane to the wider public yet all-consuming in the halls of the Senate: a nonbinding custom called the Byrd rule, administered by an unelected official known as the parliamentarian.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022
The one slight variable in the ICE Theaters set-up, the make and mark of each recliner seat might differ from territory to territory, but ICE does maintain firm standards.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 22 June 2022
But the key variable — the wholesale price of diesel — is not looking good.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2022
See More
Adjective
That said, the car's continuously variable automatic transmission has a tendency to drone the engine.
—Nicholas Wallace, Car and Driver, 21 Mar. 2023
Milton Friedman famously found that the time lags are long and variable.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023
Like the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, these premium models share support for variable refresh rates of up to 120Hz.
—Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 14 Mar. 2023
Monetary policy operates with long and variable lags.
—Jason Furman, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2023
The front is dominated by a 2,800-by-1,752-pixel display with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, while the insides are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset, 128GB storage, and 6GB RAM.
—PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2023
Some of the data taken included information on salaries and variable compensation between 2013 and 2015, as well as bank account information used for salary payments, the person said, asking not to be named discussing the confidential matter.
—Sally Bakewell, Bloomberg.com, 14 Feb. 2023
Avocado production is highly variable in the region.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Feb. 2023
Power starts with a hybrid setup comprised of a 2.5-liter engine mated to an electrical motor and CVT (continuously variable transmission).
—Dallas News, 21 Jan. 2023
Noun
The final variable, I, represents mutual information.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2023
What Tua may not know is that the concussion protocol is imperfect and is not the only variable to consider when deciding whether to return this season.
—Tara Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Dec. 2022
Heat isn’t the only variable here either: A change in acidity from, say, adding a big squeeze of lemon juice to your simmering broth, might also promote coagulation.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 20 Nov. 2022
The offense was the variable in the equation, the defense the constant.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2022
Another variable: connecting flights and the weather at intermediate airports.
—Peter Greenberg, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2022
Even Sinema was bracing for another variable, which is arcane to the wider public yet all-consuming in the halls of the Senate: a nonbinding custom called the Byrd rule, administered by an unelected official known as the parliamentarian.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022
The one slight variable in the ICE Theaters set-up, the make and mark of each recliner seat might differ from territory to territory, but ICE does maintain firm standards.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 22 June 2022
But the key variable — the wholesale price of diesel — is not looking good.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'variable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin variābilis "changeable," from Latin variāre "to make changeable, vary" + -ābilis -able
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of variable was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing variable
Dictionary Entries Near variable
Cite this Entry
“Variable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/variable. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
variable
1 of 2 adjective
vari·able
ˈver-ē-ə-bəl,
ˈvar-
1
: able to change : likely to be changed
variable winds
2
: having the characteristics of a variable
3
: not true to the usual or normal type
a variable species of wheat
variable
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a quantity that may take on any one of a set of values
b
: a mathematical symbol representing a variable
2
: something that is variable
3
: a factor in a scientific experiment that may be subject to change
controlled all variables except temperature
Medical Definition
variable
1 of 2 adjective
vari·able
ˈver-ē-ə-bəl, ˈvar-
1
: able or apt to vary : subject to variation or changes
allergy is perhaps the most variable of all diseases—H. G. Rapaport & Shirley Linde
H. G. Rapaport & Shirley Linde2
: characterized by variations
3
: not true to type : aberrant
—used of a biological group or character
variable
2 of 2 noun
: something that is variable
More from Merriam-Webster on variable
Nglish: Translation of variable for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of variable for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about variable
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