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.
The seven OPEC+ nations said they would continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and reaffirmed their “full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse.”
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 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
Such flexibility could improve coverage, strengthen reliability, and increase operational efficiency.
From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026
That way, goals like building an emergency fund or creating flexibility within one’s finances are easier to connect to, she said — and can also thwart the feeling of being overwhelmed.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
“Easy for you to say. You human persons are always flip-flopping about. Changing this plan. Changing that plan. All that flexibility is simple for you.”
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
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.
