variable

variable — adjective

1. Something that is variable changes often and is not steady or predictable.

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Something that is variable changes often and is not steady or predictable.

Example

The weather in this region is highly variable, with sunshine one minute and rain the next.

be + variable: describing changeable conditions

Brandon found the variable quality of the cell signal frustrating during his road trip.

Common collocations
  • variable weather
  • variable quality
  • variable income
  • variable speed
  • highly variable
Synonyms
  • changeable

    more general, used for moods as well as conditions

  • unstable

    stronger negative connotation; suggests something is unreliable or unsafe

  • fluctuating

    formal; describes repeated up-and-down movement, especially in prices or numbers

Antonyms

Usage Note

Commonly describes natural conditions (weather, temperature, wind), quality, or income. Frequently used with adverbs such as 'highly', 'extremely', or 'very'.

Common Mistakes

The weather is various today.
The weather is variable today.
'various' means 'different kinds of'; 'variable' means 'likely to change'.

2. Made up of many different types or elements that vary from one another.

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Made up of many different types or elements that vary from one another.

Example

The city's variable population includes immigrants from over fifty different countries.

variable + [noun]: made up of diverse parts

Joaquín enjoys the variable terrain of the national park, from flat meadows to rocky cliffs.

Common collocations
  • variable population
  • variable terrain
  • variable collection
Synonyms
  • diverse

    more common than 'variable' for describing variety in people or things

  • varied

    neutral and widely used; suggests a healthy range of differences

Antonyms
  • uniform

    all the same; lacking variety

Usage Note

This sense emphasises variety or richness of different elements rather than unpredictability or instability. Common in descriptions of collections, populations, landscapes, or artistic works.

variable — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe things that do not stay the same, but they differ in tone and context. 'Changeable' is the most neutral and general — the weather, a person's mood, or opinions can all be changeable. 'Variable' is slightly more formal and often used for measurable conditions (temperature, wind speed, quality). 'Unstable' carries a stronger negative charge: an unstable political situation or an unstable relationship suggests risk and insecurity. 'Fluctuating' is the best choice for continuous up-and-down movement, especially in prices, numbers, or levels. 'Volatile' is the strongest word, implying sudden and extreme changes that may be dangerous — volatile chemical compounds, volatile stock markets, or volatile tempers. For everyday use, 'variable' and 'changeable' are usually the safest choices.

changeableunstable ↗fluctuatingvolatile

Common collocations

Nouns

  • variable quality
  • variable speed
  • variable income
  • variable costs

Adverbs

  • highly variable
  • extremely variable
  • very variable
  • somewhat variable

Phrases

  • subject to variable conditions

Prepositions

  • variable in
  • variable across

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'variable' comes from the Latin verb 'variare' meaning 'to change, to make different', which entered English through French in the 14th century. The suffix '-able' gives it the sense of 'capable of being changed'. The mathematical use for a symbol that can take different values developed in the 1700s alongside modern algebra.