1 mutability | Definition of mutability

mutable

adjective
mu·​ta·​ble | \ ˈmyü-tə-bəl How to pronounce mutable (audio) \

Definition of mutable

1 : prone to change : inconstant mutable opinions
2a : capable of change or of being changed mutable laws
b : capable of or liable to mutation mutable vowels a mutable gene

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Other Words from mutable

mutability \ ˌmyü-​tə-​ˈbi-​lə-​tē How to pronounce mutability (audio) \ noun
mutably \ ˈmyü-​tə-​blē How to pronounce mutably (audio) \ adverb

Examples of mutable in a Sentence

the government's mutable economic policies a politician with very mutable positions on all the issues

Recent Examples on the Web

All the laws of physics are mutable and that mutability itself is a principle of physics. Quanta Magazine, "A Private View of Quantum Reality," 4 June 2015 Himself a former photographer, Greenberg appreciates that photographic images are inherently mutable. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, "Photography’s biggest stars are out in MFA’s ‘Viewpoints’ show," 15 Aug. 2019 Cloud Nine,’’ presently receiving a first-class production by Nora Theatre Company under the perceptive direction of Lee Mikeska Gardner, that unreality takes the form of an experiment with the mutable properties of time. Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, "The sun sets on the British empire in Nora Theatre Company’s ‘Cloud Nine’," 20 June 2019 Basketball fans girdle the globe, and the internet and a thousand cable N.B.A. channels have rendered loyalties mutable. Michael Powell, New York Times, "The East Has Fallen Off the Map," 3 July 2018 Each season concludes with a mutable sign — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces — that possesses effortless fluidity well-suited to change and transformation. Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "Each Zodiac Sign's Unique Personality Traits, Explained by an Astrologer," 28 Oct. 2018 That’s partly because the play’s performers, under Mr. Mendes’s impeccably paced direction, are so inventively mutable. Ben Brantley, New York Times, "Review: ‘The Lehman Trilogy’ Is a Transfixing Epic of Riches and Ruin," 13 July 2018 Sophia Simensky’s set and costumes are as basic as can be, yet surprisingly mutable, too, especially as enhanced by Seth Rook Williams’s carefully shaded lighting and Daniel Foxsmith’s ominous sound design. Ben Brantley, New York Times, "Review: In ‘Operation Crucible,’ Terror and Reassurance," 15 May 2018 And indeed, 40 years is a long trend for something as perennially mutable, and undefinable, as pop music. Dj Louie Xiv, Vanities, "Has 2018 Killed the Pop Star?," 22 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mutable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of mutable

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for mutable

Middle English, from Latin mutabilis, from mutare to change; akin to Old English mīthan to conceal, Sanskrit mināti he exchanges, deceives

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More Definitions for mutable

mutable

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of mutable

formal : able or likely to change often

mutable

adjective
mu·​ta·​ble | \ ˈmyüt-ə-bəl How to pronounce mutable (audio) \

Medical Definition of mutable

1 : capable of change or of being changed in form, quality, or nature
2 : capable of or liable to mutation

More from Merriam-Webster on mutable

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mutable