parameter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “parameter” mean?
A fixed limit or boundary that defines the scope or characteristics of something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fixed limit or boundary that defines the scope or characteristics of something.
A variable factor or characteristic that can be measured or defined, which helps set the conditions for a system, process, or model.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. Slight preference for plural form 'parameters' in US English in business contexts.
Connotations
In both variants, the word carries connotations of precision, measurement, and systematic thinking. Misuse for 'perimeter' or 'boundary' is criticized in careful usage.
Frequency
Equally frequent in academic and technical writing in both regions. Slightly more common in US corporate jargon.
Grammar
How to Use “parameter” in a Sentence
parameter for + noun/gerundparameter of + nounparameter that + clausewithin/outside the parameters ofVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “parameter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No established verb form. Technical neologism 'to parameterise' exists.]
- [No established verb form.]
American English
- [No established verb form. Technical term 'to parameterize' is used.]
- [No established verb form.]
adverb
British English
- [No established adverb form.]
- [No established adverb form.]
American English
- [No established adverb form.]
- [No established adverb form.]
adjective
British English
- The parametric equations defined the curve.
- A parametric model was used for the simulation.
American English
- The parametric equations defined the curve.
- We used a parametric model for the simulation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to discuss the limits or conditions of a project, deal, or budget. E.g., 'We need to work within the parameters set by the client.'
Academic
Common in mathematics, statistics, computing, and sciences to denote a quantifiable characteristic of a system or model.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used in discussions about rules, plans, or DIY projects to sound precise.
Technical
The primary domain. Precise meaning in programming (value passed to a function), mathematics (constant defining a family), engineering (measurable characteristic).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “parameter”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “parameter”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “parameter”
- Using 'parameter' to mean 'perimeter' (e.g., 'the fence defines the parameter of the land').
- Using it as a fancier synonym for 'characteristic' or 'feature' when no sense of a limit or defining condition is present.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'parameter' is a defining or limiting factor, often abstract. A 'perimeter' is the physical outer boundary of an area.
Yes, but the word is most commonly used in the plural ('parameters') when referring to the set of conditions or limits governing a situation.
It can, but it sounds formal. In casual talk, words like 'limit', 'rule', 'guideline', or 'factor' are often more natural.
It is a variable listed in the definition of a function. It acts as a placeholder for the actual value (argument) that is passed to the function when it is called.
A fixed limit or boundary that defines the scope or characteristics of something.
Parameter is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Parameter: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈræm.ɪ.tər/, and in American English it is pronounced /pəˈræm.ə.t̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The word itself is technical.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PARAMETER as a PARA-METER, a 'beside-measure' – it's the thing you measure or define alongside a system to understand its limits.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER metaphor (things happen 'within' parameters). A MAP metaphor (parameters 'define the territory').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'parameter' used CORRECTLY?