flexibility

[flek-suh-bil-i-tee]

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.

Other Word Forms

• hyperflexibility noun
• nonflexibility noun
• unflexibility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flexibility¹

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

Example Sentences

The bonus was that it gave the team’s front office flexibility to spend big elsewhere.

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These tools offer Beijing flexibility and deniability while adding volatility that can make crises worse.

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“I mean—money, six months vacation, live wherever you want. And you’re serving the nation. What other job allows that much flexibility?”

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Yet when it comes to true mental flexibility, living brains still have the clear advantage.

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On Wednesday, European Commission Vice-President Stephane Sejourne said that the EU was willing to show "flexibility" in how the combustion engine phase-out is achieved, ahead of a commission announcement expected on December 10.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• resilience