parameters

9 synonyms for parameters, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The limits or boundaries that define what is allowed or possible in a situation; the terms you have to work within. Plural of parameter.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

criteria

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

limits boundaries constraints terms arguments inputs settings options

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The limits or boundaries that define what is allowed or possible in a situation; the terms you have to work within. Plural of parameter.

“Stay within the parameters we agreed with the client.”

limits boundaries constraints terms criteria

2. noun

In computing, the values passed into a function, command or program that determine how it behaves.

“The function takes three parameters: a file path, a mode and a callback.”

arguments inputs settings options

How to use parameters

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

within the parameters set the parameters key parameters default parameters model parameters

Neutral; the 'limits' sense can sound like management jargon if overused.

Etymology

From Greek para 'beside, alongside' and metron 'measure', by way of modern Latin parametrum in geometry.

Full origin of parameters →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a parameter and an argument?

In programming, a parameter is the named placeholder in the function's definition, while an argument is the actual value you pass in when you call it. The distinction matters in documentation, though people use the two words loosely in conversation.

What is the difference between a parameter and a perimeter?

A perimeter is a physical boundary, the distance around a shape or the edge of an area. A parameter is an abstract limit or a defining value. Saying 'within the perimeters of the agreement' is a common mistake for 'parameters'.

Is it wrong to use parameters to mean limits?

It was once criticised as a misuse borrowed from mathematics, but the sense is now thoroughly established in general English and appears in all major dictionaries. In technical writing, though, keep it for its precise meaning.

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