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

As for the direct-to-consumer website, Pfizer has flexibility to reduce those cash prices while still preserving its earnings, since cash payments skip the intermediaries that generally absorb a chunk of the drug’s list price.

From Barron's

Having staff in the factory also adds flexibility to the production process.

From BBC

“The upgrade reflects Paraguay’s recent history of sound economic policies, which have led to strong economic growth, and monetary and fiscal flexibility,” Standard & Poor’s said.

From The Wall Street Journal

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has hailed the EU's new proposals, saying "more openness to technology and greater flexibility are the right steps".

From Barron's

State regulators also give them some flexibility to decide whether to spend the money on approved projects, or something else.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• resilience