ability

¹

[uh-bil-i-tee]

noun

plural

abilities 

1. power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc.

   Synonyms: dexterity, expertness, proficiency, capability

2. competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification.

   the ability to sing well.

3. abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes.

   Composing music is beyond his abilities.

-ability

²

1. a combination of -able and -ity, found on nouns corresponding to adjectives ending in -able:

   capability.

ability

/ əˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. possession of the qualities required to do something; necessary skill, competence, or power

   the ability to cope with a problem

2. considerable proficiency; natural capability

   a man of ability

3. (plural) special talents

Other Word Forms

• subability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ability¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (h)abilite, from Middle French, from Latin habilitās “aptitude,” equivalent to habili(s) “handy” ( able ) + -tās -ty ²; replacing Middle English ablete, from Old French, from Latin, as above

Origin of ability²

Middle English -abilite, from French -abilité, from Latin -ābilitās (inflectional stem -ābilitāt- )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ability¹

C14: from Old French from Latin habilitās aptitude, handiness, from habilis _able

Synonym Study

Ability, faculty, talent denote qualifications or powers. Ability is a general word for power, native or acquired, enabling one to do things well: a person of great ability; ability in mathematics. Faculty denotes a natural ability for a particular kind of action: a faculty of saying what he means. Talent is often used to mean a native ability or aptitude in a special field: a talent for music or art.

Example Sentences

His ability to ruffle feathers is simply indicative of his desire to speed things up.

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States have the ability to mandate limitations on inappropriate AI use, though we may be fast approaching the volume of AI-generated ads that would make enforcement challenging.

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More than ever, we need leaders with strong moral character, personal discipline and the ability to model prudential choices about when and how to use such a powerful technology.

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But it is not that easy when you're chasing O'Sullivan who, according to Virgo, has more "natural ability" than any current sportsman and which he remembers witnessing in the then 16-year-old's first appearance on popular gameshow Big Break in 1992.

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Their exchange was just one of many in the latest trove of over 20,000 pages of personal documents, which revealed Epstein's ability to maintain elite social circles even after his criminal conviction and the Herald expose.

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Related Words

• capability 
• capacity 
• competence 
• intelligence 
• qualification 
• skill 
• strength 
• talent 
• understanding