n.
Pronunciation: ' ver- ē - ə -b ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin variabilis, from variare to vary
Date: 14th century
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
– var · i · abil · i · ty \ ˌ ver- ē - ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– var · i · able · ness \ ' ver- ē - ə -b ə l-n ə s \ noun
– var · i · ably \ -bl ē \ adverb