Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

variable

noun

/ˈver.i.ə.bəl/

Definition

A variable is a symbol or name that represents a value that can change.

Examples

In programming, a variable can hold different types of data, like numbers or text.
The weather is a variable that can change from day to day.
When experimenting, researchers often change one variable to see its effects.

Meaning

In different contexts, a variable can refer to different things such as a placeholder for data in mathematics or programming, or a quantity that can take on various values in statistics and science.