flexibility

American  

[flek-suh-bil-i-tee] / ˌflɛk səˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

• flexibilities
  plural

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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hyperflexibility
  noun
• nonflexibility
  noun
• unflexibility
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• flexibilities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of flexibility

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

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Compare meaning

How does flexibility compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• adaptability vs. flexibility

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Explanation

If you twist your body into the shape of a pretzel, you are showing a lot of flexibility. Flexibility is the ability to bend or stretch. Lots of things can have flexibility. Pipe cleaners are designed for flexibility. A piece of software can boast flexibility when it can be used in different ways by different people. If you are really busy with school, sports and activities, your schedule won't have much flexibility. Please don't get fixed on one set idea — show a little flexibility and listen to others.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flexibility flexibilities

Open-weight and open-source AI models have been gaining in popularity among enterprises seeking cost savings, greater control and flexibility compared with proprietary or closed models.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

How should we think about the trade-offs between spending more now, preserving financial flexibility for the future and leaving a charitable legacy?

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

"To complement cash generated by the business and preserve financial flexibility, we will access additional sources of funding when we believe it is attractive to do so," Hood said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

There have also been calls from Labour MP Nia Griffith to give the Welsh government greater flexibility to borrow to fund investment projects.

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026

But I eventually came to understand that it’s about embracing the flexibility and possibility of the unknown.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

“Without congressional action to reinstate telemedicine flexibilities, both beneficiaries and providers will continue to face disruptions in access to care, loss of critical services and wasted investments in telehealth infrastructure.”

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 24, 2026

LNG exporters are already lobbying hard for waivers or other flexibilities.

From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2025

These flexibilities have been crucial, and we don't want to take a step backwards when it comes to modernization.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2024

Under the regulation, there are several extensions and flexibilities for certain types of buildings and uses.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2023

A man might use all the words, of all the languages in all their flexibilities and never tell the whole truth of his own craft.

From Son of Power by Will Levington Comfort

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Related Words

• resilience

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