immutable

Advancedzipf 2.85

Pronunciation

/ɪˈmjuːtəbəl/(ih-MYOO-tuh-bul)

Part of speech

adjectiveformal

Chinese

不可改变的；永恒不变的

Definition

Unchanging over time or unable to be changed; permanent and fixed.

Word family

  • immutably/ɪˈmjuːtəbli/(adv)不变地
  • immutability/ɪˌmjuːtəˈbɪlɪti/(n)不变性

Collocations

  • immutable law
  • immutable truth
  • immutable fact
  • immutable principles
  • immutable data (computing)

Examples

  1. 1.The laws of thermodynamics are considered immutable — no known exception has ever been observed. (unchangeable)
  2. 2.In functional programming, immutable data structures cannot be modified after creation. (computing: cannot be changed)

Synonyms

  • unchangeable/ʌnˈtʃeɪndʒəbəl/— cannot be altered
  • invariable/ɪnˈvɛəriəbəl/— never changing
  • fixed/fɪkst/— set, not varying — less formal

Etymology

from Latin "immutabilis" — in- (not) + mutare (to change) — same root as "mutate" and "mutation"