variable

/ˈvɛəriəbəl/

noun

  1. a situation, factor, or amount that can change and affect a result

    B1

    countable

    • "The weather is one variable we cannot control."B1
    • "Researchers kept all the variables the same except one."B2
    • "Cost is a key variable in the decision."C1

  2. in mathematics and computing, a symbol or name that represents a value that can change

    B1

    countabletechnical

    • "In the equation x + 2 = 5, x is a variable."A2
    • "The program stores the user's age in a variable."B2
    • "You can change the variable to test different results."C1

adjective

  1. changing often or likely to change; not steady

    B2

    more variable, most variable

    • "The quality of the food is variable."B1
    • "Rainfall is highly variable across the region."B2
    • "Her mood was variable, so we waited for a calmer moment."C1

  2. able to be changed or adjusted

    C1

    more variable, most variable

    • "The machine has variable speed settings."B2
    • "The chair's height is variable."B2

Common mistakes

  • We have variable options.→We have various options.

    'Variable' means changing or not steady; 'various' means several different.

Collocations

independent variabledependent variablerandom variablevariable costvariable ratehighly variablekey variablecontrol variable

Word family

variabilityvariablyvaryvariationvariantinvariable