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ADJECTIVE
Something that is variable changes quite often, and there usuallyseems to be no fixed pattern to
these changes.
The potassium content of foodstuffs is very variable. 
There was a bit of a wind and it was blowing onshore, variable, but quite strong. 
...a variable rate of interest. 
Synonyms: changeable, unstable, fluctuating, shifting   More Synonyms of variable
variability (veəriəbɪlɪti  ) UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
There's a great deal of variability between individuals. [+ between] 
...the variability in the climate. 
2. COUNTABLE NOUN
A variable is a factor that can change in quality, quantity, or size, which you have to take
into account in a situation.
Decisions could be made on the basis of price, delivery dates, or any other variable. 
Other variables in making forecasts include the weather and the economic climate. 
3. COUNTABLE NOUN
A variable is a quantity that can have any one of a set of values.
[technical]
It is conventional to place the independent variable on the right-hand side of an equation. 
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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variable in British English

(ˈvɛərɪəbəl  )
ADJECTIVE
1. 
 liable to or capable of change
variable weather
2. 
(of behaviour, opinions, emotions, etc) lacking constancy; fickle
3.  mathematics
having a range of possible values
4. 
(of a species, characteristic, etc) liable to deviate from the establishedtype
5. 
(of a wind) varying its direction and intensity
6. 
(of an electrical component or device) designed so that a characteristic property, such
as resistance, can be varied
variable capacitor
NOUN
7. 
something that is subject to variation
8.  mathematics
a. 
an expression that can be assigned any of a set of values
b. 
a symbol, esp x,  y, or z, representing an unspecified member of a class of objects, numbers, etc 
See also dependent variable, independent variable
9.  logic
a symbol, esp x, y, or z, representing any member of a class of entities
10.  computing
a named unit of storage that can be changed to any of a set of specified values
during execution of a program
11.  astronomy variable star
12. 
a variable wind
13. (plural)
a region where variable winds occur
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Derived forms
variability (ˌvariaˈbility) or variableness (ˈvariableness)
 NOUN
variably (ˈvariably)
 ADVERB

Word origin
C14: from Latin variābilis changeable, from variāre to diversify
Word Frequency
     
variable in American English
(ˈvɛriəbəl  ; ˈværiəbəl  )
ADJECTIVE
1.  
apt or likely to change or vary; changeable, inconstant, fickle,fluctuating, etc.
2.  
that can be changed or varied
3.  Biology
tending to deviate in some way from the type; aberrant
4.  Ancient Mathematics
having no fixed value
NOUN
5.  
anything changeable; esp., a quality or quantity that varies or may vary
6.  
a shifting wind
7.  Astronomy
variable star
8.  Ancient Mathematics and Physics
a.  
a part of a mathematical expression that may assume any value in aspecific, related set of values
b.  
a symbol for such a part
see also constant
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Derived forms
variability (ˌvariaˈbility) 
NOUN or ˈvariableness
variably (ˈvariably) 
ADVERB

Word origin
ME < MFr < L variabilis
Word Frequency
     

variable in Electrical Engineering

(vɛəriəbəl)
ADJECTIVE
(Electrical engineering:  General)
A variable electrical component or device is designed so that a particular property, such as
resistance, can be varied.
Variable belt drives require precise alignment and careful setup to work efficiently.
A  variable resistor is a resistor whose values can be changed or varied over a range.
A  variable electrical component or device is designed so that a particular property, such as
resistance, can be varied.
COBUILD Key Words for Electrical Engineering. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Examples of 'variable' in a sentence

variable
 These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
The quality of his information is very variable and in many cases impossibleto verify.
TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES (2017)
In reality, there are many more variables.
TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES (2016)
Today will be another cold one, with high pressure over the south bringing variable
amounts of cloud and sunshine.
TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES (2017)
Variable speed' limits are imposed to cut congestion at peak times and
redcrosses close lanes when there is an accident ahead.
TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES (2016)
It says that enforcing variable speed limits on major roads is relativelycheap'because
only a limited number of speed cameras would be needed'.
TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES (2016)
For example, firms can take into account variables such as the cost and
time requirements of in-house software packaging versus using externalservice
providers.
COMPUTING (2010)
It was also claimed that the rise reflected an increase in the number ofdigital cameras
used to monitor variable speed limits on stretches of'smart'motorways.
TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES (2016)
There is no control group or variable.
CHRISTIANITY TODAY (2000)
The main variable cost that suppliers have is the cost of labour.
JOANNA BLYTHMAN SHOPPED: THE SHOCKING POWER OF BRITISH
SUPERMARKETS (2004)
Those on the lowest variable deals are still better off staying put for now.
TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES (2010)
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Trends of

variable
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In other languages

variable
British English: variable  /ˈvɛərɪəbl/ adjective
Something that is variable is likely to change at any time.
The weather is extremely variable at the moment.
 American English: variable 
 Arabic: ‫ ُم َت َغيِّر‬ 
 Brazilian Portuguese: variável 
 Chinese: 变化的 
 Croatian: promjenjiv 
 Czech: proměnlivý 
 Danish: variabel 
 Dutch: variabel 
 European Spanish: variable 
 Finnish: vaihteleva 
 French: variable 
 German: veränderlich 
 Greek: ευμετάβλητος 
 Italian: variabile 
 Japanese: 変わりやすい 
 Korean: 변하기 쉬운 
 Norwegian: variabel 
 Polish: zmienny 
 European Portuguese: variável 
 Romanian: variabil
 Russian: переменный 
 Latin American Spanish: variable 
 Swedish: varierande 
 Thai: เปลีย ่ นแปลงได ้ตลอดเวลา 
 Turkish: değişken 
 Ukrainian: мінливий
 Vietnamese: có thể thay đổi 
British English: variable noun
A variable is a factor that can change in quality, quantity, or size, which you have to take into
account in a situation.
Decisions could be made on the basis of price, delivery dates, or any other variable.
 American English: variable
 Brazilian Portuguese: variável
 Chinese: 可变因素
 European Spanish: variable
 French: variable
 German: Variable
 Italian: variabile
 Japanese: 要因
 Korean: 변수
 European Portuguese: variável
 Latin American Spanish: variable

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Nearby words of

variable
 Vargas Llosa
 vargueno
 varia
 variable
 variable (interest) rate
 variable annuity
 variable cost

All ENGLISH words that begin with 'V'
Related terms of

variable
 variable cost
 variable star
 variable type
 dummy variable
 random variable

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Source
Definition of variable from the Collins English Dictionary