flexibility
Americannoun
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the ability to bend easily or without breaking.
The shoe soles are made from elastic materials to provide perfect flexibility.
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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.
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the ability and willingness to adjust one’s thinking or behavior.
Being a resilient parent is all about flexibility.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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. ); see flexible ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does flexibility compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If you twist your body into the shape of a pretzel, you are showing a lot of flexibility. Flexibility is the ability to bend or stretch. Lots of things can have flexibility. Pipe cleaners are designed for flexibility. A piece of software can boast flexibility when it can be used in different ways by different people. If you are really busy with school, sports and activities, your schedule won't have much flexibility. Please don't get fixed on one set idea — show a little flexibility and listen to others.
Vocabulary lists containing flexibility
Physical Education - Introductory
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Vocabulary from President Trump's First Address to Congress
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Structure and Properties of Matter - Middle School
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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.
"In particular, with conditions such as addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder we see a difficulty in breaking habits and shifting behavior. So, understanding the mechanics of behavioral flexibility may one day help us develop better treatments."
From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026
OpenAI acknowledged the decision involved "a complicated set of tradeoffs" but said the filing preserves its flexibility.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
“A detached pool house with full bathroom and sauna offers ideal flexibility for guests, wellness, or office use, while additional detached flex spaces provide versatility for a variety of needs,” the listing continued.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
Despite what she describes as a turbulent journey through school, Amelie believes that without the flexibility to change path along the way she might have dropped out altogether.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
It was supposed to mimic the support of a corset without yielding too much in the way of flexibility.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
