variable.

1. a factor or quantity that can take different values

2. Liable to change or differ across times, cases, or conditions.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• independent variable
• dependent variable
• control variable

On the page

Age was included as a control variable.

The model examines the relationship between three variables.

Changing one variable at a time helped isolate the effect.

Usage notes

Primary curation section: Academic. In research, variables are measured, manipulated, or otherwise distinguished. Not every variable is a cause. Plural: variables. Adjective variable has a separate sense of changeable.