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 Words From

• hy·per·flex·i·bil·i·ty noun
• non·flex·i·bil·i·ty noun
• un·flex·i·bil·i·ty 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

In addition to its flexibility, one of the big things was its reliability.

From Washington Post

“If a customer prefers to not fly on this aircraft, we’ll provide flexibility to ensure they can be easily re-accommodated,” the carrier said in a message to employees.

From Fortune

Baxter-Gilbert acknowledges that the shrinking may not be due to natural selection and could instead be a consequence of the toads having the developmental flexibility to respond to a quirk of their island environment.

From Science News

The agencies offer staffing flexibility and can help shield companies from legal issues surrounding employees’ questionable immigration status or workers’ compensation claims because they are the direct employer.

From ProPublica

That flexibility, and the trust it created, is playing a role this time.

From Digiday

The UN methodology affords its team a little more flexibility.

From The Daily Beast

The job requires a mind for logistics, flexibility, and risk control.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. government should expedite their cases while showing some modicum of flexibility in reviewing their documentation.

From The Daily Beast

The amount of strength, flexibility, stamina, everything it takes to be a gymnast is insane.

From The Daily Beast

Will the U.S. demonstrate a reasonable amount of flexibility to satisfy him when it comes to the nuclear program?

From The Daily Beast

Equal flexibility of the joint could certainly have been obtained with a smaller number of bones.

From Project Gutenberg

She noticed the strong, thick fingers, devoid of flexibility, yet evidently of terrific strength.

From Project Gutenberg

Sisal also lacks the flexibility of Manila, being much more stiff and harsh.

From Project Gutenberg

The merit of the simple suspension bridge is its cheapness, and its defect is its flexibility.

From Project Gutenberg

This does not sound promising, but it works perfectly well in practice by the exercise of a little flexibility.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• resilience