1. A variable referred to in a function, which is not an argument of the function. In lambda-calculus, x is a {bound variable} in the term M = x . T, and a free variable of T. We say x is bound in M and free in T. If T contains a subterm x . U then x is rebound in this term. This nested, inner binding of x is said to "shadow" the outer binding. Occurrences of x in U are free occurrences of the new x. Variables bound at the top level of a program are technically free variables within the terms to which they are bound but are often treated specially because they can be compiled as fixed addresses. Similarly, an identifier bound to a recursive function is also technically a free variable within its own body but is treated specially. A closed term is one containing no free variables. See also closure, lambda lifting, scope. 2. In logic, a variable which is not quantified (see quantifier).

1. A bound variable or formal argument in a function definition is replaced by the actual argument when the function is applied. In the lambda abstraction x . M x is the bound variable. However, x is a free variable of the term M when M is considered on its own. M is the scope of the binding of x. 2. In logic a bound variable is a quantified variable. See quantifier.

In statistics, an exchangeable sequence of random variables (also sometimes interchangeable) is a sequence X1, X2, X3, ... (which may be finitely or infinitely long) whose joint probability distribution does not change when the positions in the sequence in which finitely many of them appear are altered.