adjustable

American

[uh-juhs-tuh-buhl] / əˈdʒʌs tə bəl /

adjective

capable of being adjusted.

adjustable seat belts.
(of loans, mortgages, etc.) having a flexible rate, as one based on money market interest rates or on the rate of inflation or cost of living.
(especially of life insurance) having flexible premiums and coverage, based on the insuree's current needs and ability to pay.

noun

any rate, expense, income, etc., that varies unpredictably.

Luckily, his chief income is not made up of adjustables. Allow some money in your budget for the adjustables.

Other Word Forms

adjustably adverb
nonadjustable adjective
nonadjustably adverb
preadjustable adjective
unadjustable adjective
unadjustably adverb

Etymology

Origin of adjustable

First recorded in 1765–75; adjust + -able

Explanation

Something that's adjustable can be changed or altered so that it works or fits better. A car's adjustable seat can accommodate both very tall and very short drivers. Most belts are adjustable — you can make them larger or smaller depending on the size of your waist. Seat belts and ball caps are also adjustable, so that they conform to different bodies and heads. When a loan or mortgage from a bank is described as adjustable, it means that the interest rate changes periodically. The verb adjust came first, from the Old French ajouter, "to join," based on the Late Latin adiuxtare, "to bring near."

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Vocabulary lists containing adjustable

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"Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills," Vocabulary from Module Three

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While health events happen, your lifestyle is adjustable.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Maybe one with an adjustable height for neck support?

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

But a steepening yield curve is changing the math—and giving buyers significantly lower rates on adjustable loans than fixed.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

ESM combines fast curing with adjustable strength and full recyclability.

From Science Daily • Jan. 21, 2026

She looks like one of those adjustable desk lamps.

From "The Misfits" by James Howe

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023