motility
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of motility
First recorded in 1800–10; from Latin mōt-, stem of movēre “to move” + -ility ( def. )
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How does motility compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
In biology, motility is the ability of organisms and fluid to move or get around. A microbiologist might test and compare the motility of various single-celled organisms. An easy way to remember that motility means the ability to move without help is the mot- at the root of the word. It's the same root that's found in "motor," which is, of course, the engine that drives a car. If you've got good motility then your motor is working. After a car accident, an athlete's friends are understandably concerned about her motility. Motility is something you tend to take for granted — until you sprain an ankle.
Vocabulary lists containing motility
Microbiology - High School
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Silent Spring
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Microbiology - Middle School
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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.
But “there’s a real education gap” among members of the public about the potentially serious side effects of these medications, said Kyle Staller, director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital.
From Washington Post • May 26, 2021
Motility is about how sperm move, which will determine whether they are able to swim through a woman’s cervix, into her uterus and fallopian tubes to reach the eggs.
From Washington Post • Apr. 25, 2019
"We now have a test to say, you have a disease," Dr. Mark Pimental, gastroenterologist and director of the GI Motility Program and Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai Health System, told CBS News.
From US News • May 21, 2015
Motility — the ability to move proficiently — is key for sperm to reach their destination, an egg.
From Washington Post • Aug. 26, 2013
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.
