What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
variadic
Example
The variadic function in this program can accept any number of arguments. [variadic: adjective]
Example
In C++, the ellipsis (...) is used to indicate a variadic function. [variadic: adjective]
multivariate
Example
The multivariate analysis showed a strong correlation between income and education level. [multivariate: adjective]
Example
The multivariate equation has two independent variables. [multivariate: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Multivariate is more commonly used than variadic in academic and technical contexts, especially in statistics and mathematics.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between variadic and multivariate?
Both variadic and multivariate are technical terms and are typically used in formal or academic contexts. However, multivariate is more commonly used in research and academic writing, making it slightly more formal than variadic.