different between fluctuation vs variability

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fluctuati?nem, accusative singular of fluctuati?, from fluctu?, from fluctus.Morphologically fluctuate +? -ion

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fl?kt?u??e???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

fluctuation (countable and uncountable, plural fluctuations)

1. A motion like that of waves; a moving in this and that direction.

   the fluctuations of the sea

2. A wavering; unsteadiness.

   fluctuations of opinion

   fluctuations of prices

3. In medicine, a wave-like motion or undulation of a fluid in a natural or abnormal cavity (e.g. pus in an abscess), which is felt during palpation or percussion.

Related terms

• fluctuate

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fluctuati?nem, accusative singular of fluctuati?, from fluctu?, from fluctus.

Pronunciation

Noun

fluctuation f (plural fluctuations)

1. fluctuation

Related terms

• fluctuer

Further reading

• “fluctuation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

Derived form of variable, from Old French variable; see variable +? -ity.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?v???.i.?.?b?l.?.ti (?.ti)/
• (US, Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA^(key): /?væ?.i.?.?b?l.?.ti (?.ti)/
• (US, Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /?v??.i.?.?b?l.?.ti (?.ti)/

Noun

variability (countable and uncountable, plural variabilities)

1. The state or characteristic of being variable.
2. The degree to which a thing is variable. In data or statistics this is often a measurement of distance from the mean or a description of data range.

Synonyms

• variableness

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• variability in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• variability in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.