flexibility

American  

[flek-suh-bil-i-tee] / ˌflɛk səˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the ability to bend easily or without breaking.

   The shoe soles are made from elastic materials to provide perfect flexibility.

2. the quality of being easily adapted or of offering many different options.

   This blogging platform is becoming more and more popular because of its flexibility, power, and simplicity.

3. the ability and willingness to adjust one’s thinking or behavior.

   Being a resilient parent is all about flexibility.

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Other Word Forms

• hyperflexibility noun
• nonflexibility noun
• unflexibility noun

Etymology

Origin of flexibility

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin flexibilitāt-, stem of flexibilitās, equivalent to flexibili(s) “pliant, easily bent” + -tās -ty ² ( def. ); flexible ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does flexibility compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• adaptability vs. flexibility

Example Sentences

To further improve flexibility, the team incorporated a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer matrix into the ExciPh layer.

From Science Daily

The team used that flexibility to make a splash last month when they signed reliever Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69-million deal, emerging as a surprise winner after Díaz appeared on track to sign elsewhere.

From Los Angeles Times

The company said it expects to maintain strong credit ratings, and that it will still have the flexibility to execute its capital-allocation priorities of further tuck-in deals, followed by opportunistic stock buybacks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Early retirees and partially retired consultants may have more flexibility than full-time workers with their income.

From Barron's

“That gives the market more flexibility than it had decades ago.”

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• resilience