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Synonyms

capability

American  
[key-puh-bil-i-tee] / ˌkeɪ pəˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

capabilities
  1. the quality of being capable; capacity; ability.

    His capability was unquestionable.

  2. the ability to undergo or be affected by a given treatment or action.

    the capability of glass in resisting heat.

  3. Usually capabilities. qualities, abilities, features, etc., that can be used or developed; potential.

    Though dilapidated, the house has great capabilities.


capability British  
/ ˌkeɪpəˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

  1. the quality of being capable; ability

  2. the quality of being susceptible to the use or treatment indicated

    the capability of a metal to be fused

  3. (usually plural) a characteristic that may be developed; potential aptitude

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • overcapability noun
  • supercapability noun

Etymology

Origin of capability

First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French capabilité, from Late Latin capābili(s) capable + -ty 2

Compare meaning

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"But we will also see genuinely useful features driven by advances in machine learning that provide new capabilities into a range of products, everything from phones to TVs to wearables to digital health to cars."

From Barron's

Either AI is a bubble and therefore spending on the technology is being wasted, or it truly is a game-changing technology and traditional software applications will be replaced by AI-driven capabilities.

From Barron's

“All this has turned China into one of the economies with the fastest-growing innovation capabilities,” Xi said in his roughly nine-minute message.

From The Wall Street Journal

Artificial intelligence’s coding capabilities and tools are rapidly advancing, making experienced engineers more productive.

From Los Angeles Times

The Japanese were technological champions, and there was a genuine fear by the late 1980s that Japanese industrial capability would dominate the world.

From Barron's