mutable
/ˈmjuː.tə.bəl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Able to change easily. A mutable thing, idea, or feeling is not fixed and can shift over time.
- Human opinions can be surprisingly mutable.
- The weather here is very mutable.
- Her mood seemed mutable that morning.
Adinary Nuance
Mutable is close to changeable, variable, and unstable, but it feels more formal and literary. Use mutable when you want to stress that something can change, often over time or under different conditions. Changeable is more everyday, while unstable often suggests weakness or risk.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thay đổi được
- Spanish
- mutable
- Chinese
- 可变的
- Japanese
- 変わりやすい
- Korean
- 변하기 쉬운
Etymology
Mutable comes from Latin mutabilis, meaning "changeable." It entered English in the late Middle Ages through French and learned writing.
Common phrases
mutable naturemutable feelingsmutable conditions
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is mutable formal or informal?
- Mutable is fairly formal. You will see it more in writing, academic English, and careful speech.
- What is the difference between mutable and changeable?
- Both mean able to change. Changeable is more common and everyday; mutable sounds more formal and literary.
- Can I use mutable for people?
- Yes, but usually for a person's mood, opinions, or character traits, not their body.
- Is mutable a common IELTS word?
- Yes, it can help in Writing and Reading, especially in academic topics about change or systems.