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

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

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

Management “came back stronger and fearless, and they’ve been much more agile” since the crisis.

Read more on MarketWatch

“Older adults are surprisingly agile in switching between technology services,” the authors write—and more than open to using them to engage with family and friends of different generations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The creature is incredibly agile, though, easily jumping over the arc of the swing and making its way toward the stairs on its hand-feet.

Read more on Literature

If you must, think of ibexes instead, a fierce and agile type of goat with great spiraling horns.

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It said it will remain agile to respond to changes in global trade and keep a tight rein on costs moving forward.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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