versatility

American  

[vur-suh-til-i-tee] / ˌvɜr səˈtɪl ɪ ti /

Rarely versatileness

noun

versatilities plural

1. the state or quality of being useful for or easily adapted to various tasks, styles, fields of endeavor, etc..

   The versatility of the space makes it perfect for a business lunch, an informal dinner, a cocktail with friends in the evening, or a revitalizing cup of tea.

   Much sought-after on the international music circuit, the conductor’s versatility and broad repertoire have taken her to symphony and chamber orchestras, contemporary music ensembles, and opera houses across the world.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonversatility
  noun
• unversatility
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• versatilities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of versatility

First recorded in 1660–70; versatil(e) ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Explanation

The word versatility describes having many different skills or qualities. Versatility allows you to adapt to many different situations. Your versatility in sports means that you can play soccer, tennis, and basketball. The noun versatility derives from the Latin word versatilis, meaning "turning, revolving, moving, capable of turning to varied subjects or tasks." Companies seek employees who have versatility so they can adapt to different work situations. A soccer player with versatility can play forward, defense, and goal keeper exceptionally well. A master chef's versatility means she has extensive knowledge of French, American bistro, Italian, and Spanish cuisine.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

versatility versatilities

His positional versatility allows him to play as a narrow winger on both the left and right side of attack, before making runs akin to a centre-forward.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

The head of Boeing's Commercial Airplanes division, Stephanie Pope, said that the order "reflects the strong demand we are seeing for the 737 MAX family's efficiency, reliability and versatility".

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

It’s a dizzyingly brilliant measure of the versatility and depth of the acclaimed author’s literary talent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

“Care Bears is a powerful addition to Authentic’s entertainment portfolio and reflects the versatility of our global intellectual property platform,” said Matt Maddox, the president and chief executive of Authentic Brands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

I wasn’t making a lot of money, but I realized that my ability to handle any written material gave me a versatility that many of my friends looking for jobs did not have.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers

"I’m just showing them different versatilities of what I can do," Parsons said.

From Fox News ● Sep. 20, 2021

“I’m just showing them different versatilities of what I can do,” Parsons said.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2021

Barker's multivocality is a display of just one of the versatilities natural to literary style.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 18, 2012

It is in a sense a relief to feel that they have no further versatilities with which to confound one.

From Time Magazine Archive

Conforming to the spurious piety of this monkish taste, a voluminous commentary expounded the morality of the ravishing versatilities of Ariosto.

From Amenities of Literature Consisting of Sketches and Characters of English Literature by Disraeli, Isaac

Related Words

• adaptability