alterable

Alterable is an adjective that denotes the quality of being able to be altered, changed, or modified from its current state. It is used to describe objects, plans, or conditions that are not fixed and can be adjusted as needed. The word emphasizes potential rather than inevitability; something alterable may be modified by an agent or through an external process.

The term derives from the verb alter, itself from Latin alterare meaning to change, with the suffix -able indicating capability.

In practical usage, alterable is common in software, engineering, and design. For example, software configurations may include alterable parameters; a device may have alterable settings such as brightness or volume; document templates often contain alterable fields for user input. In manufacturing and product design, an alterable feature is one that can be adjusted during setup or customization.

In contrast to terms like immutable or fixed, alterable emphasizes the possibility of change. It is often paired with synonyms such as changeable, modifiable, adjustable, or configurable, each carrying subtle distinctions. Changeable may imply frequent or inevitable change, while alterable stresses the capacity for modification, potentially by a user or system.

See also: Changeable, Modifiable, Mutable, Configurable, Flexible, Alteration.