flexible

American  

[flek-suh-buhl] / ˈflɛk sə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being bent, usually without breaking; easily bent.

   a flexible ruler.

   Synonyms:

   supple, elastic, pliable

   Antonyms:

   stiff

2. susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable.

   a flexible schedule.

   Synonyms:

   compliant, tractable

   Antonyms:

   rigid

3. willing or disposed to yield; pliable.

   a flexible personality.

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noun

1. a flexible substance or material, as rubber or leather.

flexible British  

/ ˈflɛksɪbəl /

adjective

1. Also: flexile.  able to be bent easily without breaking; pliable

2. adaptable or variable

   flexible working hours

3. able to be persuaded easily; tractable

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Related Words

Flexible, limber, pliant refer to that which bends easily. Flexible refers to that which is capable of being bent and adds sometimes the idea of compressibility or expansibility: a flexible piece of rubber hose. Limber is especially applied to the body to refer to ease of movement; it resembles flexible except that there is an idea of even greater ease in bending: a limber dancer. Pliant stresses an inherent quality or tendency to bend that does not require force or pressure from the outside; it may mean merely adaptable or may have a derogatory sense: a pliant character.

Other Word Forms

• flexibility noun
• flexibleness noun
• flexibly adverb
• hyperflexible adjective
• hyperflexibleness noun
• hyperflexibly adverb
• nonflexible adjective
• nonflexibleness noun
• nonflexibly adverb
• unflexible adjective
• unflexibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of flexible

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin flexibilis “pliant, easily bent”; flex ¹, -ible

Example Sentences

Standard fares will include perks such as seat selection, additional checked bags and the ability to make changes, while flexible tickets will be fully refundable and include all standard benefits, United said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

It added Delta was “well positioned to navigate the current environment,” and that it will stay flexible with its capacity if elevated fuel prices persist.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The key is to start as early as possible “to benefit from compounding while staying flexible as college approaches,” Cassandra Rupp, a financial planner and senior wealth advisor at Vanguard, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

"Using the methods described in this paper, we can now process superconducting MXenes into flexible films, coatings or wires at room temperature for potential superconducting interconnectors or quantum sensors," Zhang said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

I drew two pages of long, flexible zippers and noticed that a shark has no rib cage.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Related Words

• malleable
• soft