Definition:Variable/Propositional Logic

Definition
A statement variable is a variable which is used to stand for arbitrary and unspecified statements.

For statement variables, lowercase letters are usually used, e.g.:
 * $p, q, r, \ldots{}$, etc.

or lowercase Greek letters, e.g.:
 * $\phi, \psi, \chi$ etc.

The citing of a variable can be interpreted as an assertion that the statement represented by that symbol is true.

That is:
 * $p$

means
 * $p \text { is true}$

Also known as
Equivalent terms for statement variable are:
 * sentential variable
 * propositional variable
 * proposition symbol.

The latter name is also used for the letters of the language of propositional logic, which are intended to represent statement variables.

Also see
Note the difference between a statement label and a statement variable.

The first is used to identify a particular statement. The latter is used to represent an instance of any statement at all.