variable cost

American  

noun

1. a cost that varies with a change in the volume of output while remaining uniform on a per-unit basis, as cost of labor (distinguished from fixed cost).

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variable cost British  

noun

1. a cost that varies directly with output

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

variable cost

On the variable cost side of the coin, spending on graphics processing units and data centers, as well as massive electricity bills, are sending tech companies’ capital-light models the way of the dial-up modem.

From Barron's ● Mar. 5, 2026

You should go for a smaller battery with less-expensive technology and optimize the variable cost of the product instead.

From The Verge ● Jun. 21, 2022

The city has piloted variable cost parking according to demand in the past but where is the citywide implementation?

From New York Times ● Nov. 8, 2017

Therefore, we can write This expression represents a variable cost because it changes according to the number of miles driven.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 13, 2015

Oil is the biggest variable cost for airlines, often representing a third or more of their total operating expenses.

From Reuters ● Dec. 23, 2014