invariant section

noun

Something that must not be removed or modified during redistribution.

“I had to include the GNU Manifesto, as it was part of an invariant section.”

Meanings

nouninvariant section (plural invariant sections)

plural invariant sections · alternative INVARIANT section

  1. lawSomething that must not be removed or modified during redistribution.

    I had to include the GNU Manifesto, as it was part of an invariant section.

  2. mathematicsA section that will not vary through changing state.
  3. computingA property that does not change through a program's execution.

Origin

* (law): Coined by Free Software Foundation in free software copyright licenses.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

invariant section. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/invariant%20section

MLA

“invariant section.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/invariant%20section. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “invariant section,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/invariant%20section.

Source: invariant section on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.