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

The proposal would cap the number of A’s per course at 20%, plus an additional four A’s to account for smaller courses with more variability.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Cost of living is often hard to measure given the variability in how households choose to spend their money, Reid said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

Oracle screens with exceptional investment quality and profitability, supported by strong analyst sentiment and high variability rank.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

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 • Feb. 17, 2026

“In another work I shall discuss, if time and health permit, the variability of organic beings in a state of nature,” Darwin had written in 1868.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

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