mutability
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Literary
Definition
Meaning
The quality or state of being subject to change or alteration.
In philosophy, biology, or computer science, the property of being capable of undergoing or likely to undergo modification.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries a philosophical or abstract connotation. Implies a fundamental capacity for change, not a single event. Common in discussions of nature, human condition, and software states.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Usage frequency is similar across registers.
Connotations
Identical. Both carry formal/literary weight.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British academic texts, but the difference is negligible.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
mutability of [noun]the mutability [prepositional phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The mutability of all earthly things.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in high-level strategy discussions about market conditions (e.g., 'the mutability of consumer trends').
Academic
Common in humanities (literature, philosophy), life sciences (genetic mutability), and computer science (object mutability).
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound overly formal or poetic.
Technical
Specific meaning in computing: a property of an object whose state can be modified after creation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The software is designed to mutate the data efficiently.
American English
- The virus continued to mutate rapidly.
adverb
British English
- The situation changed mutably over the weeks.
American English
- Fashion trends shift mutably from season to season.
adjective
British English
- The mutable weather forced us to cancel the picnic.
American English
- In programming, mutable objects can be altered after creation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Nothing in life has complete mutability; some rules are fixed.
- The mutability of the schedule caused confusion.
- The poet reflected on the mutability of human happiness.
- A key concept in biology is the genetic mutability of organisms.
- The philosopher argued that the mutability of social norms is a prerequisite for progress.
- In functional programming, immutability is often preferred over mutability for data safety.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MUTAbility - Think of a MUTAnt, which is a changed form, plus ABILITY - the ability to change.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A RIVER (emphasising constant flow and change); THE WORLD IS WAX (malleable, impressionable).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'мутабельность' in non-scientific contexts; it is a neologism. Prefer 'изменчивость', 'непостоянство'. Do not confuse with 'мутация' (mutation), which is a specific biological change.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'mutibility' or 'mutablity'. Incorrectly using it for a single change rather than the quality of being changeable (e.g., 'the mutability happened yesterday').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'mutability' a common technical term with a precise meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a mid-frequency word primarily used in formal, academic, or literary contexts. It is uncommon in everyday conversation.
'Change' is a general noun for the event or process of becoming different. 'Mutability' is the abstract quality or capacity *for* change. It describes a characteristic, not an action.
It is typically neutral but context-dependent. In technology, mutable data can be efficient. In literature, it often conveys melancholy (the passing of time). It can be positive when describing adaptability.
The most direct antonym is 'immutability,' meaning unchangeableness or permanence.
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