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.
While that figure is higher than most, school districts’ fixed costs have been found to be a third of overall district costs at minimum, and generally higher.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Local authorities in Cambridgeshire have issued 889 fixed penalty notices for littering, according to Freedom of Information requests made by the BBC.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Where a grid has spare capacity and the customer is locked into paying for what it reserved, fixed costs can be spread across more consumption, holding rates down.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
The freight railroad companies said Monday their combined railroad would expand committed gateway pricing, offering fixed pricing agreements for twice as many eligible shipments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The tortoise’s sleepy gaze was fixed ahead, and while there was no change in his dull expression, Clare did not think he imagined that the shell-dweller grew irritated.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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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.