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dependent variable

Definition of Dependent Variable

(noun) In statistical analysis, the variable being measured, which changes in response to the independent variable.

Example of Dependent Variable

Dependent Variable Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: de·pen·dent var·i·a·ble

Audio Pronunciation

– American English
– British English

Phonetic Spelling

  • American English – /di-pEn-duhnt vAIR-ee-uh-buhl/
  • British English – /di-pEn-duhnt vEUH-riuh-buhl/

International Phonetic Alphabet

  • American English – /dɪˈpɛndənt ˈvɛriəbəl/
  • British English – /dɪˈpɛndənt ˈveərɪəbl/

Usage Notes

  • Plural: dependent variables
  • The variable to be explained is the dependent variable and the variable that produces the effect being explained is the independent variable.
  • In a mathematical equation, the dependent variable is typically represented with a “y.”
  • Also called outcome variable.

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Additional Information

Related Terms

Contributor: C. E. Seaman


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Cite the Definition of Dependent Variable

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Seaman, C.E. 2015. “dependent variable.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary, edited by Kenton Bell. Retrieved March 19, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/dependent-variable/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

Seaman, C.E. (2015). dependent variable. In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/dependent-variable/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Seaman, C.E. 2015. “dependent variable.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary, edited by Kenton Bell. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/dependent-variable/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

Seaman, C.E. “dependent variable.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2015. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/dependent-variable/>.