fixed
Americanadjective
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fastened, attached, or placed so as to be firm and not readily movable; firmly implanted; stationary; rigid.
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rendered stable or permanent, as color.
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set or intent upon something; steadily directed.
a fixed stare.
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definitely and permanently placed.
a fixed buoy;
a fixed line of defense.
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not fluctuating or varying; definite.
a fixed purpose.
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supplied with or having enough of something necessary or wanted, as money.
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coming each year on the same calendar date.
Christmas is a fixed holiday, but Easter is not.
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put in order.
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Informal. arranged in advance privately or dishonestly.
a fixed horse race.
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Chemistry.
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(of an element) taken into a compound from its free state.
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nonvolatile, or not easily volatilized.
a fixed oil.
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Mathematics. (of a point) mapped to itself by a given function.
adjective
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attached or placed so as to be immovable
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not subject to change; stable
fixed prices
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steadily directed
a fixed expression
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established as to relative position
a fixed point
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not fluctuating; always at the same time
a fixed holiday
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(of ideas, notions, etc) firmly maintained
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(of an element) held in chemical combination
fixed nitrogen
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(of a substance) nonvolatile
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arranged
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astrology of, relating to, or belonging to the group consisting of the four signs of the zodiac Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, which are associated with stability Compare cardinal mutable
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informal equipped or provided for, as with money, possessions, etc
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informal illegally arranged
a fixed trial
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fixed
Explanation
Something fixed is rigidly set or placed. A fixed point does not move, as in this quote: “She was his North Star, the fixed point round which his world turned” (from David Gemmell’s Fall of Kings). Anything described as fixed is unchangeable. A fixed rent can’t be raised by the landlord because it’s legally set at a certain amount. That’s handy if you have a fixed income –- one that stays the same every month no matter what. A fixed piece of wood is nailed to the wall. Fixed things are stable and constant. A fixed stare doesn’t look away. Fixed also means “mended” like if you fixed a broken chair before anyone sat.
Vocabulary lists containing fixed
"Sonnet 116"
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Lessons 4–5
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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.
“Once you have that thing up and running, you need it to be loaded,” Shih said, given the high fixed costs of building a fabrication plant and fitting it with chip-making equipment.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 3, 2026
Southern Water has claimed it achieved a record year of leakage reduction, equating to 27 million litres per day, and has found and fixed 2,840 leaks since January.
From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026
A date for the inquest is yet to be fixed.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
“This addition of world-class U.S. production capacity supports our long-term strategy of diversifying our energy exposure, capturing economies of scale, and lowering both fixed costs and capital per ton,” he added.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
I wanted to bawl, but I fixed my jaw, my throat, my heart against the urge.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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.
