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
- fixedly adverb
- fixedness noun
- semifixed adjective
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.
That “something” may have already been fixed, as Díaz was available to pitch Wednesday after being sidelined for four days, but still.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
Offenders could receive a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points on their licence.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
When budgeting for retirement, people tend to include only their home’s fixed expenses — mortgage, insurance and taxes.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
Underused chip-production facilities have high fixed costs and can immediately weigh on the bottom line.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
He stepped forward to take the apple from Akira’s hand, and Akira held his bridle while she fixed the blinders into place.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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.
