# parameter

/pɝˈæmətɝ/ (US) · /pəɹˈæmɪtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/parameter
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. limits or boundaries

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a limit or rule that controls how something should be done.

For teachers: a numerical or other measurable factor forming one of a set that defines a system or sets the conditions of its operation; often used in the plural to denote boundaries.

- The researchers had to work within the strict parameters set by the government grant.
- The legal team spent weeks defining the parameters of the contract to ensure that every possible contingency was covered by the new regulations.

Usage: Commonly used in the plural form 'parameters' when referring to general guidelines or constraints.

### 2. Computing

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a piece of information that you give to a computer program or function so it can do its work.

For teachers: a named variable in a function definition that acts as a placeholder for the argument passed to the function during execution.

- This function requires two parameters: the user's name and their age.
- The developer modified the API to accept an optional parameter, allowing users to filter the search results by date or relevance.

Usage: In strict technical contexts, a 'parameter' is the variable defined in the function, while an 'argument' is the actual value passed to it.

### 3. Statistics/Science

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

a fixed value that describes a specific part of a population or system.

For teachers: a quantity that is constant in a particular case but varies in others; specifically, a numerical characteristic of a population.

- The study measured several parameters, including heart rate and blood pressure.
- In this statistical model, the population mean is the primary parameter we are attempting to estimate through random sampling.

## Examples

- We need to set the parameters for the new project.
- The software allows users to adjust the search parameters to filter results by date, location, and file size.
- The researchers had to define the experimental parameters strictly to ensure that the data collected would be statistically significant and reproducible by other laboratories.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.