flexibility

[flek-suh-bil-i-tee]

noun

1. the ability to bend easily or without breaking.

   The shoe soles are made from elastic materials to provide perfect flexibility.

2. the quality of being easily adapted or of offering many different options.

   This blogging platform is becoming more and more popular because of its flexibility, power, and simplicity.

3. the ability and willingness to adjust one’s thinking or behavior.

   Being a resilient parent is all about flexibility.

Other Word Forms

• hyperflexibility noun
• nonflexibility noun
• unflexibility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flexibility¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin flexibilitāt-, stem of flexibilitās, equivalent to flexibili(s) “pliant, easily bent” + -tās -ty ² ( def. ); flexible ( def. )

Example Sentences

Asked about these situations, officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid said the law does not give the agency flexibility to consider factors such as weather, for example, in designating a critical assess hospital.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Most homeowners have seen their home values soar over the past several years, Zillow says, which gives them the flexibility for a price cut or two while still walking away with a profit.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This gives it the flexibility to add some leverage without taking on substantial risk.

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Diversifying across account types gives people the most flexibility to manage tax implications over their lifetimes.

Read more on Barron's

“People with the most flexibility are going to be business owners or people who have a fair amount of income from capital gains and can choose whether to realize gains or not,” Kaufman says.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• resilience