# variable

/ˈvɛɹiəbəɫ/ (US) · /vˈeəɹɪəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/variable
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. likely to change

adjective · CEFR B2

changing often or likely to change.

For teachers: subject to variation or changes; not remaining constant in quality, degree, or type.

- The weather in the mountains is very variable, so you should bring a jacket.
- The quality of the local produce remains highly variable depending on the seasonal rainfall and the specific farming techniques employed.

### 2. a changing factor

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a factor or condition that can change and affect the result of something.

For teachers: an element, feature, or factor that is liable to vary or change, especially within a scientific experiment.

- Temperature is a key variable that affects how fast the plants grow.
- The researchers attempted to control every possible variable, yet the final results still showed significant discrepancies between the two test groups.

### 3. math/computing value

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a symbol or name that represents a value that can change.

For teachers: a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values; in programming, a named memory location for storing data.

- In this equation, 'x' is the variable we need to solve for.
- The developer declared a global variable to track the user's score across different levels of the application.

### 4. astronomy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a star whose brightness changes over time.

For teachers: a star whose luminosity changes, either irregularly or somewhat regularly.

- The astronomer spent months tracking the brightness of the variable.
- Observations of this particular variable suggest that its pulsation period is shortening as it enters a new stage of stellar evolution.

### 5. nautical/weather

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

winds that change direction often, or areas of the sea where this happens.

For teachers: a shifting wind or one that varies in force; in the plural, regions of the sea where steady winds are absent.

- The ship struggled to make progress while stuck in the variables.
- The captain noted that the light variables were making navigation difficult, as the sails could not catch a consistent breeze.

## Examples

- The weather is a major variable in our travel plans.
- Researchers must control every variable except for the one they are testing to ensure the results are accurate.
- Economists struggle to predict market shifts because there are too many independent variables acting simultaneously, from consumer confidence to international trade policy.

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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.