adjustable
Americanadjective
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capable of being adjusted.
adjustable seat belts.
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(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.
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(especially of life insurance) having flexible premiums and coverage, based on the insuree's current needs and ability to pay.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of adjustable
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."
Vocabulary lists containing adjustable
List 4
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List 10
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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.
The work could help scientists create metallocene-based materials with adjustable or stimuli responsive properties, potentially leading to new advances in chemistry, materials science, and medicine.
From Science Daily • May 22, 2026
It is a highly adjustable technology - known as ChAdOx1 - that can be quickly tweaked so it works against different infections.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
Drawstrings along the shorts allow for adjustable length, a high turtleneck can be zipped up or pulled down for breathability, and reflective elements make the piece visible at night.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
Some examples: Stretching for a higher home price based on quick appreciation, using a large adjustable mortgage to fund renovations, buying a vacation or rental property, or financing extra vehicles that strain cash flow.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026
“Fasten this around your waist,” he says, then proceeds to untangle three adjustable straps that have little clamps on both ends.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
