Synonyms

adjustable

American

[uh-juhs-tuh-buhl] / əˈdʒʌs tə bəl /

adjective

capable of being adjusted.

adjustable seat belts.
(of loans, mortgages, etc.) having a flexible rate, as one based on money market interest rates or on the rate of inflation or cost of living.
(especially of life insurance) having flexible premiums and coverage, based on the insuree's current needs and ability to pay.

noun

any rate, expense, income, etc., that varies unpredictably.

Luckily, his chief income is not made up of adjustables. Allow some money in your budget for the adjustables.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of adjustable

First recorded in 1765–75; adjust + -able

Explanation

Something that's adjustable can be changed or altered so that it works or fits better. A car's adjustable seat can accommodate both very tall and very short drivers. Most belts are adjustable — you can make them larger or smaller depending on the size of your waist. Seat belts and ball caps are also adjustable, so that they conform to different bodies and heads. When a loan or mortgage from a bank is described as adjustable, it means that the interest rate changes periodically. The verb adjust came first, from the Old French ajouter, "to join," based on the Late Latin adiuxtare, "to bring near."

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Vocabulary lists containing adjustable

List 4

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"Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills," Vocabulary from Module Three

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Adjustable Uttyhooks provide easy, portable storage with a small profile.

From Seattle Times • May 17, 2024

Adjustable antennas, reconfigurable transmission beams and customized electronics let the satellite run a wide range of applications—and switch between them in minutes—at 36,000 kilometers above Earth.

From Scientific American • Dec. 10, 2021

Price: $76 Amazon PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbells You can get your strength training in from home with these durable, adjustable dumbbells from Powerblock.

From The Verge • Nov. 24, 2021

Adjustable poles are also popular among backcountry users, who will lengthen them on the climb and shorten them for the descent.

From Washington Post • Nov. 11, 2021

Plan and Longitudinal Section of Adjustable Piston A partial cross-section of an adjustable piston is shown in Fig.

From Steam Engines Machinery's Reference Series, Number 70 by Anonymous

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023