mutable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mutable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is subject to change or capable of being altered. Example: "The mutable nature of the software allows for frequent updates and improvements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Moving the dictionary to a class or module scope will result in a very subtle bug where the variants might appear as they get added to the mutable dictionary in different requests.

The Guardian

Python's default data structures are mutable, which is a sensible design decision in terms of least surprise, but actually understanding the initialisation and state of a mutable structure is hard; especially in a language like Python that freely allows reassignment and executes like a script rather than a compiled language.

The Guardian

"Medical science has never faced a more inscrutable, more mutable, or more ruthless adversary," says Dr Marks.He would know.

The Economist

He recognised that species were mutable, and he also proposed that traits could be inherited.

The Economist

Beneath the drive for conquest lay horror at the prospect of self-recognition, of being forced to acknowledge the arbitrary and mutable character of one's own deep values and totems.Money is just such an arbitrary and mutable totem.

The Economist

Political analysis based on personality types, which was popular in the 1950s with Theodor Adorno's typology of the "authoritarian personality" and so on, largely broke off in the 1960s because of the trenchant critique that most people's understanding of politics and ideology is so confused, mutable and inconsistent that it can't be meaningfully connected to something as stable as personality.

The Economist

HIV is what is known as a retrovirus (this means it copies its genes into a host's cell nuclei using a mechanism called reverse transcription) but drugs that had been developed in the past to protect against retroviruses did not work well against it, partly because it is extremely mutable and could thus evolve to avoid their attentions.

The Economist

As Colorado's experience with edibles shows, officials struggle to keep up with such a mutable market.

The Economist

In the process, Mr Field has often shown how mutable supposedly entrenched party positions can be: the evolving welfare dispute is less a dogged confrontation between left and right than a sinuous political dance.A growing likelihood of coalition government, as the British vote fractures, will make Mr Field's style of politics all the more necessary.

The Economist

Reptilian classification is highly mutable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To Cahun, identity was mutable, or unstable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data structures in programming, use "mutable" to indicate that the value of the data structure can be changed after it is created. This contrasts with "immutable", where the value cannot be changed.

Common error

Avoid using "mutable" when you mean "immutable". "Mutable" signifies the ability to change, while "immutable" means unchangeable. Ensure you choose the correct term to accurately describe whether something can be modified or not.

Linguistic Context

The word "mutable" primarily functions as an adjective. Ludwig AI highlights its use in describing something that is subject to change or capable of being altered. It modifies nouns to indicate this quality, as seen in examples like "mutable data structures" or "mutable market".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

32%

News & Media

35%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "mutable" is a versatile adjective used to describe something capable of changing. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English. It commonly appears in academic, scientific, and news contexts, indicating its appropriateness for formal discourse. While "mutable" enjoys frequent usage, remember to differentiate it from its antonym, "immutable". Utilizing "mutable" correctly enhances precision and clarity in writing, particularly when describing variable or adaptable entities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

changeable

Direct synonym emphasizing the capacity to undergo alteration.

subject to change

Highlights the vulnerability of something to modification.

liable to change

Implies a higher probability of alteration compared to "subject to change".

variable

Focuses on the inherent tendency to fluctuate or differ.

unstable

Suggests a lack of fixity and a proneness to variation or disruption.

inconstant

Implies a lack of steadfastness or regularity.

adaptive

Emphasizes the capacity to adjust to new conditions, implying change for a specific purpose.

malleable

Highlights the ability to be shaped or molded, often referring to physical or behavioral change.

flexible

Stresses the capacity to bend or adapt without breaking, indicating a resilience to change.

fluid

Conveys a sense of easy and continuous change, like a liquid that flows.

FAQs

How is "mutable" used in programming?

In programming, "mutable" describes a data structure whose state can be modified after it is created. For example, lists in Python are mutable, while strings are immutable.

What is the opposite of "mutable"?

The opposite of "mutable" is "immutable", which describes something that cannot be changed after it is created.

Can you give me an example of a mutable object?

A common example of a mutable object is a list. You can add, remove, or change elements within a list after it has been created.

What are synonyms for "mutable"?

Synonyms for "mutable" include "changeable", "variable", and "adaptive", depending on the specific context.