covariant

[ koh-vair-ee-uhnt ]

adjective

, Mathematics.

1. (of one magnitude with respect to another) varying in accordance with a fixed mathematical relationship:

   The area of a square is covariant with the length of a side.

Word History and Origins

Origin of covariant¹

First recorded in 1850–55; co- + variant

Example Sentences

In setting out the generally covariant field equations in the second and fourth papers, he made no mention of the hole argument.

From Nature

“What did we say about using covariant derivatives?”

From Nature

We have in the Hessian the first instance of a covariant of a ternary form.

From Project Gutenberg

The final field equations are 'generally covariant': they retain their form no matter what system of coordinates is chosen to express them.

From Nature

This 'hole argument' seemed to show that generally covariant field equations cannot uniquely determine the gravitational field and are therefore inadmissible9.

From Nature