immutability
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Definition
Meaning
The quality or state of being unchangeable or unable to be altered.
A state of permanent stability, especially used in abstract contexts such as laws, principles, divine attributes, or data structures.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a strong, often absolute, resistance to change. The term can carry connotations of permanence, eternity, or inflexibility, depending on context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning, spelling, or usage.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in formal registers for both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the immutability of [abstract noun] (e.g., laws, human nature)to argue for/against the immutability ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms feature this specific noun]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Occasionally used in high-level strategy to describe unchangeable market conditions or core company principles.
Academic
Common in philosophy, theology, law, and computer science to discuss unalterable truths, divine attributes, legal principles, or data states.
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound excessively formal.
Technical
Common in computer science, particularly in functional programming, to describe data objects that cannot be modified after creation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The data structure was designed to immutable the state of the application.
American English
- The system is engineered to immutable the core parameters once set.
adverb
British English
- The rules were applied immutably, without exception.
American English
- The algorithm processes data immutably, creating new copies.
adjective
British English
- The laws of physics were considered immutable for centuries.
American English
- Their commitment to the policy was described as immutable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Some people believe in the immutability of human nature.
- The ancient stone circle has an air of immutability.
- The philosopher argued for the immutability of moral truths.
- A key feature of this programming language is data immutability.
- The constitutional court's ruling underscored the immutability of certain fundamental rights.
- Theological debates often centre on the immutability of the divine being versus its responsiveness.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I'm mutable' means I can change. 'Im-mutable' with the prefix 'im-' (meaning 'not') means NOT changeable.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMUTABILITY IS SOLIDITY/ROCK (e.g., 'the bedrock immutability of the constitution'), IMMUTABILITY IS ETERNITY (e.g., 'the immutable stars').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing as 'неизменяемость' in all contexts; for technical 'immutability' (comp. sci.), the established term is 'неизменяемость', but for philosophical 'immutability', 'неизменность' is more natural.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'imutability' (single 'm').
- Confusing with 'immobility' (inability to move).
- Using in casual speech where 'permanence' or 'stability' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'immutability' most commonly used as a technical term?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word used primarily in academic, philosophical, legal, and technical (computer science) contexts.
'Immutability' means incapable of change at all. 'Stability' means resistant to change or unlikely to fall over; it implies a lack of *undesirable* change but allows for the possibility of change.
Yes. While it can signify reliability (e.g., immutable laws), it can also imply stubbornness, inflexibility, or an inability to adapt when applied to institutions or attitudes.
The adjective form is 'immutable'.
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