flexible

American  

[flek-suh-buhl] / ˈflɛk sə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being bent, usually without breaking; easily bent.

   a flexible ruler.

   Synonyms:

   supple , elastic , pliable

   Antonyms:

   stiff

2. susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable.

   a flexible schedule.

   Synonyms:

   compliant , tractable

   Antonyms:

   rigid

3. willing or disposed to yield; pliable.

   a flexible personality.

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noun

1. a flexible substance or material, as rubber or leather.

flexible British  

/ ˈflɛksɪbəl /

adjective

1. Also: flexile.  able to be bent easily without breaking; pliable

2. adaptable or variable

   flexible working hours

3. able to be persuaded easily; tractable

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Related Words

Flexible, limber, pliant refer to that which bends easily. Flexible refers to that which is capable of being bent and adds sometimes the idea of compressibility or expansibility: a flexible piece of rubber hose. Limber is especially applied to the body to refer to ease of movement; it resembles flexible except that there is an idea of even greater ease in bending: a limber dancer. Pliant stresses an inherent quality or tendency to bend that does not require force or pressure from the outside; it may mean merely adaptable or may have a derogatory sense: a pliant character.

Other Word Forms

• flexibility noun
• flexibleness noun
• flexibly adverb
• hyperflexible adjective
• hyperflexibleness noun
• hyperflexibly adverb
• nonflexible adjective
• nonflexibleness noun
• nonflexibly adverb
• unflexible adjective
• unflexibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of flexible

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin flexibilis “pliant, easily bent”; flex ¹, -ible

Example Sentences

Archaeological evidence shows that past communities developed flexible ways of living that combined farming, fishing, and forest management.

From Science Daily

Although many living species share flexible skulls and other advanced traits, only the tuatara still retains a complete lower temporal bar, giving it a more ancestral appearance.

From Science Daily

Above all, in his numerous houses, he revived the Shingle Style, the informal and flexible 19th-century vernacular that is the most American of architectural creations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Because of these qualities, graphene is considered a "miracle material" and is already being explored for flexible electronic screens, highly sensitive sensors, advanced batteries, and next-generation solar cells.

From Science Daily

"We found that the brain is flexible because it can reuse components of cognition in many different tasks. By snapping together these 'cognitive Legos,' the brain is able to build new tasks."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• malleable
• soft