What does fixed mean?
"Fixed" is an adjective describing something firmly secured in place, or something settled and unlikely to change. A fixed bookshelf cannot be moved; a fixed price has been agreed in advance and will not vary; a person with a fixed idea holds it stubbornly. The word carries connotations of stability, permanence, and sometimes inflexibility, depending on context. It appears constantly in financial and legal language — fixed income, fixed assets, fixed rate, fixed term — where precision and immutability matter. In everyday speech, "fixed" also functions as the past tense of the verb "fix," meaning repaired or mended, as in "the tap is finally fixed." Derived forms include the adverb "fixedly," meaning with steady, unwavering attention, and the noun "fixedness." Because it bridges the physical sense of being fastened down and the abstract sense of being unchangeable, "fixed" is a versatile and useful word for describing anything from furniture to finances to firm convictions.
Firmly placed or secured; settled, permanent, or unvarying; determined in advance and not subject to change.
"The interest rate on the mortgage is fixed for five years."
In formal financial and legal contexts, "fixed" typically denotes permanence or pre-agreement; in everyday speech it can also suggest rigidity or stubborn attachment.
Past tense and past participle of "fix": repaired, mended, or made secure; also, arranged or agreed upon in advance.
"He fixed the broken fence over the weekend."
The word "fixed" comes from the same Latin root that gave us the English word "fix" — but interestingly, for centuries English writers actually borrowed the phrase "to fix" from Latin figere, meaning to fasten, which is why a word that sounds so ordinary is really a direct descendant of an ancient Roman verb for driving in a stake.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fixed
The adjective "fixed" derives from the past participle of the English verb "fix," which entered English from Latin via Old French. The underlying Latin verb is "figere," meaning to fasten or drive in, and its past participle "fixus" gives us the form directly. The same Latin root produced related English words such as "affix," "prefix," and "fixture." "Fix" was adopted into English around the late medieval and early modern period, and adjective uses of "fixed" became well established by the seventeenth century.
Related word forms
How fixed is actually used
"Fixed" is neutral in tone and common in both everyday speech and formal writing. In legal and financial contexts it often signals permanence or pre-agreement (fixed rate, fixed contract), while in casual use it can also suggest rigidity or stubbornness, as in a "fixed idea." As the past tense and past participle of the verb "fix," it also means repaired or mended.
Easily confused with fixed
"Fixated" describes being obsessively attached to something, while "fixed" describes something firmly secured, settled, or unchanging.