agile

[aj-uhl, -ahyl]

adjective

1. quick and well-coordinated in movement; lithe.

   an agile leap.

   Synonyms: limber, supple
   Antonyms: awkward

2. active; lively.

   an agile person.

   Synonyms: spry, energetic, brisk, sprightly, nimble
   Antonyms: lethargic, sluggish

3. marked by an ability to think quickly; mentally acute or aware.

   She's 95 and still very agile.

4. noting or relating to a philosophy of product development and production intended to create and distribute batches of working products in a short period of time with subsequent batches planned in a cyclical schedule of improvement, production, and distribution: agile manufacturing;

   agile software programming;

   agile manufacturing;

   agile teams.

noun

1. Sometimes Agile an iterative and collaborative philosophy of rapid product development and production.

   Agile is being used by more and more companies outside of the tech sector.

agile

/ əˈdʒɪlɪtɪ, ˈædʒaɪl /

adjective

1. quick in movement; nimble

2. mentally quick or acute

Other Word Forms

• agility noun
• agilely adverb
• agileness noun
• unagile adjective
• unagilely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of agile¹

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier agill, from Middle French agile “nimble” and Latin agilis “easily moved, moving easily,” equivalent to ag- (base of agere “to do, drive”) + -ilis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of agile¹

C15: from Latin agilis, from agere to do, act

Example Sentences

The White House has delayed or backed down from many of the measures, and agile planning by businesses helped many stock up on overseas goods ahead of time.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The first time I took my Panigale on a racetrack, it performed incredibly—smooth as butter and agile in corners.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And companies should encourage managers and employees to remain agile by making it simpler to rotate into other parts of the company, even if just in the short term.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some older club patrons strode in with the aid of walking sticks, less agile than they used to be but determined to pay their respects to “Mama Jewel.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"It can be more perceptive. It can see the target sooner than a human can. It can be more agile."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• athletic 
• buoyant 
• energetic 
• frisky 
• limber 
• lithe 
• lively 
• quick 
• rapid 
• sharp 
• spirited 
• sprightly 
• supple