variability

American  

[vair-ee-uh-bil-i-tee] / ˌvɛər i əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality of being subject to change, especially frequent, random, or short-term change: Ensuring effective cooperation in home care is difficult because of the variability of schedules and tasks of both patients and caregivers.

   On a longer time scale, climate variability translates into shortages of food and water worldwide.

   Ensuring effective cooperation in home care is difficult because of the variability of schedules and tasks of both patients and caregivers.

2. the quality of including different kinds, or of being different from one case to the other; diversity.

   Healthcare administrators noted the variability among nursing education programs and called for standardization.

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Other Word Forms

• hypervariability noun
• nonvariability noun

Etymology

Origin of variability

variable ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

People can also add in a “variability cost” budget line, said Grant Gallagher, director of financial well-being at Affinity Federal Credit Union.

From MarketWatch

This method presents several obstacles, including wide variability between cells, limited efficiency during genetic modification, high production costs, and lengthy preparation times.

From Science Daily

Despite these findings, the researchers do not believe such variability defined the entire Snowball Earth period.

From Science Daily

The research paper, 'Effect of nighttime bedroom temperature on heart rate variability in older adults: an observational study', has been published in BMC Medicine.

From Science Daily

The UK's rainfall is strongly influenced by natural variability, but the trend towards wetter winters is in line with predictions from the UK's meteorological organisation.

From BBC

Related Words

• anxiety
• fluctuation
• insecurity
• uncertainty
• volatility
• vulnerability
• weakness