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

This flexibility is known as cancer cell plasticity.

From Science Daily

"Within this framework, the brain is modeled as a network whose behavior is constrained by global properties such as efficiency, flexibility and integration," Wilcox said.

From Science Daily

The wider space will also be improved to enable greater programme flexibility within the Barbican's public spaces as part of a plan to expand its creative offering and attract new audiences.

From BBC

With Prasad now installed in a key leadership role, the agency has undergone a visible retreat from the “regulatory flexibility” that prior leadership once promised.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nasser initially enjoyed the flexibility of zero-hours work, which she took on alongside a full-time job at a financial services firm, but now says she feels "stuck in a cycle".

From BBC

Related Words

• resilience