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 )

Example Sentences

There are regional differences and variable outcomes by retailer, with many in bankruptcy.

From Search Engine Land

“If you know the first five things you’ve assigned don’t fit together, you don’t have to look at any of the other variables, and that generally cuts the search down a whole lot,” said Shor, who is now at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

From Quanta Magazine

There are too many new players and too many variables to assume that two superpowers will monopolize the rules of technology for the foreseeable future.

From MIT Technology Review

This gave us a total pitch quality score for every pitcher, combining all speed and movement variables and weighted by their relative importance.

From FiveThirtyEight

We also expect turnout to be harder to predict this year based on primary elections held during the pandemic that had highly variable turnout — which, in turn, could lead to more polling error.

From FiveThirtyEight

His ideological variability across a range of issues has caused many to label him the “swing justice.”

From The Daily Beast

Because of the wide variability in codeine metabolism, its use as a cough suppressant is not recommended.

From The Daily Beast

It tells us little to nothing about variability by region, by education level, by type of jobs.

From The Daily Beast

The next evolution of these practices is heart rate variability training.

From The Daily Beast

Download the Stress Doctor app  for your mobile device and spend five minutes doing some Heart Rate Variability training.

From The Daily Beast

That much variability means a crystal structure which is—uh—flexible, damn it!

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless it would be imprudent wholly to rule out this form of sexual aberration from the causes of variability of species.

From Project Gutenberg

An extraordinary set of coincidences which "points unmistakably to a common origin and cause of variability."

From Project Gutenberg

But for the proofs of variability we have not to rely upon theoretical reasoning.

From Project Gutenberg

The science of physiognomy belongs to those disciplines which show a decided variability in their value.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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