variability

/vɛriəˈbɪlɪti/

Other forms: variabilities

The weather in San Francisco is known for its variability. One minute it's summer and the next, winter. Variability means the tendency to shift or change — of being "variable."

There are many words that contain vari-, and they almost all have to do with change or difference. Variability is the noun version of this idea. The variability of the weather means that you never know exactly what to wear. T-shirt or sweater: the choices vary along with the weather. Many things are known for their variability: the taste of teenagers, the talent of the singers on "American Idol," Frank Sinatra's moods. These are just some of the things that exhibit real variability.

Definitions of variability

1. noun

   the quality of being subject to variation
   synonyms: variableness, variance

   antonyms:

   invariability

   the quality of being resistant to variation

   types:

   variedness

   characterized by variation

   variegation

   variability in coloration

   personal equation

   variability attributable to individual differences

   type of:

   changeability, changeableness

   the quality of being changeable; having a marked tendency to change
2. noun

   the quality of being uneven and lacking uniformity
   synonyms: unevenness

   antonyms:

   invariability

   a quality of uniformity and lack of variation

   types:

   rockiness

   the quality of abounding in rocks and stones

   ruggedness

   the quality of being topologically uneven

   jaggedness

   something irregular like a bump or crack in a smooth surface

   patchiness

   unevenness in quality or performance

   waviness

   unevenness produced by waves or wrinkles

   hilliness

   the quality of being hilly

   type of:

   irregularity, unregularity

   not characterized by a fixed principle or rate; at irregular intervals