accessibility

American  

[ak-ses-uh-bil-uh-tee] / ækˌsɛs əˈbɪl ə ti /

noun

1. the quality of being easy to approach, reach, enter, speak with, use, or understand.

   Transportation in boats, land vehicles, and eventually aircraft dramatically increased the accessibility of most locations on the planet.

   What is most immediately noticeable about the music is its accessibility.

2. the quality of being usable, reachable, obtainable, etc..

   The closeness and accessibility of the moon allow us to operate there in a way that is not possible with other space destinations.

   The Open Access policy establishes the company’s expectations relating to the public accessibility of data from research done by staff members or outside contractors.

3. the quality of being suitable or adapted for use by people with disabilities.

   Undoubtedly, tourism and travel revenues will come to depend more and more on adequate accessibility as the number of senior and disabled visitors grows in the coming decades.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unaccessibility
  noun

Etymology

Origin of accessibility

accessibl(e) ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Explanation

Accessibility is approachability. One of the things you may want to consider in a job is the accessibility of the managers. If you have a concern, are they available to help, or are they always in meetings or "at lunch"? Accessibility also refers to the quality of being available when needed. You like the accessibility of the company's customer service because you don't have to wait endlessly on hold in hopes of reaching a human being. Accessibility also refers to how easily a disabled person can negotiate part of a building or structure. The stadium had wheelchair accessibility with ramps and a special seating area.

Example Sentences

Accessibility and diversity of styles are often laudable, but here more ends up being less, with the majority of booths being not just unremarkable but downright off-putting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Accessibility was also essential, and a scholarship fund was created that pays partial tuition for 20% of the spots in each class.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2025

Accessibility issues were also mentioned as the reason subreddits for the video game Baldur’s Gate 3, the anime One Piece, and the state of Georgia have banned X links.

From Slate • Jan. 25, 2025

Accessibility: The reauthorization requires the FAA to look into whether it’s economically and financially feasible to have seating arrangements on planes that accommodate passengers with wheelchairs in the main cabin.

From Seattle Times • May 15, 2024

Davies.—Algiers in 1857: Its Accessibility, Climate, and Resources described with especial reference to English Invalids; with details of Recreation obtainable in its Neighbourhood added for the use of Travellers in general.

From First Impressions of the New World On Two Travellers from the Old in the Autumn of 1858 by Trotter, Isabella Strange

Related Words

• convenience