mobility
Americannoun
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the ability to move physically
a knee operation has restricted his mobility
mobility is part of physical education
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sociol (of individuals or social groups) movement within or between classes and occupations See also vertical mobility horizontal mobility
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time that a resident of a secure unit is allowed to spend outside the unit, as preparation for an eventual return to society
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of mobility
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English mobilite, from Latin mōbilitās. See mobile, -ity
Compare meaning
How does mobility compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Mobility is the ability to move freely. If your basketball injury causes you to lose mobility in your knee, that means you can’t move it very well. Mobility often refers to whether you can move an injured body part, like a joint or a limb, but it can also describe movement in general. If you have great mobility on the tennis court, that means you move freely and easily, running down shots with ease. Mobility can also describe movement between different social or economic levels. Your fancy new job may offer opportunities for upward mobility.
Vocabulary lists containing mobility
Human Geography - Middle School
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Human Geography - High School
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Out of My Mind
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The findings aren’t meant to show what might or might not happen, said Duwain Pinder, a co-founder and leader of the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
Dana said it agreed to combine with Eaton’s Mobility business in a $5.1 billion deal, aiming to create a more comprehensive supplier serving commercial- and light-vehicle markets.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
Under this structure, Eaton would first separate its Mobility Group to Eaton shareholders.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
“Verra Mobility is at an inflection point, as the Company operates in a dynamic market that continues to evolve and grow,” Board Chairman Patrick Byrne said.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
Mobility, reinvention, identity: These themes are central to the American story, and, in fact, were threaded through the literature I read in Lou Volpe’s classroom.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
