variability

[ vair-ee-uh-bil-i-tee ]

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.

Other Words From

• hy·per·var·i·a·bil·i·ty noun
• non·var·i·a·bil·i·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of variability¹

variable ( def ) + -ity ( def )

Related Words

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