TOTAL VARIABLE COST: Cost of production that changes with changes in the quantity of output produced by a firm in the short run. Total variable cost is one part of total cost. The other is total fixed cost. Variable cost depends on the level of output. If a firm produces more output, then variable cost is greater. If a firm produces no output, then variable cost is zero. A cost measure directly related to total variable cost is average variable cost. See also | total cost | variable input | quantity | total fixed cost | average variable cost |
