movable

Movable, also spelled moveable, is an adjective meaning capable of being moved or capable of being moved from one location to another. In everyday use it contrasts with stationary objects. The spelling “movable” is standard in American English, while “moveable” is common in British English and some legal documents.

In property law, movable (personal property, or chattels) refers to property that can be physically relocated without altering its essence, as opposed to immovable property or real estate (land and buildings). Examples include vehicles, furniture, clothing, and livestock. Movables are typically subject to different rules of taxation, transfer, and security interests than immovables.

In other fields, movable appears as a technical term: movable joints in anatomy allow articulation; movable parts in machinery facilitate operation; and movable type in the history of printing refers to individual reusable letters used before digital typesetting.

Origin and usage: the term derives from the verb move, through forms such as moveable in earlier English. The current standard form in American English is movable, with moveable remaining a traditional variant in British usage and in some legal texts. The concept also appears in phrases like “movable feast,” indicating something that is not fixed and can change location or status.