pattern variable

noun

Any of a set of contrasting pairs of characteristics said to be associated with various kinds of social interaction: affectivity – affective neutrality; self-orientation – collectivity-orientation; universalism – particularism; ascription – achievement; and specificity – diffusity.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounpattern variable (plural pattern variables)

plural pattern variables

  1. human sciencesAny of a set of contrasting pairs of characteristics said to be associated with various kinds of social interaction: affectivity – affective neutrality; self-orientation – collectivity-orientation; universalism – particularism; ascription – achievement; and specificity – diffusity.

Origin

Coined by Talcott Parsons (1902–1979), American sociologist.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: pattern variable on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.