malleability

American  

[mal-ee-uh-bil-i-tee] / ˌmæl i əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

Sometimes malleableness

noun

1. the state of being malleable, or capable of being shaped, as by hammering or pressing.

   the extreme malleability of gold.

2. adaptability.

   the malleability of an infant's brain.

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Other Word Forms

• nonmalleability noun
• nonmalleableness noun
• unmalleability noun

Etymology

Origin of malleability

First recorded in 1640–50; malle(able) ( def. ) + -ability ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does malleability compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ductility vs. malleability

Explanation

Malleability is the quality of something that can be shaped into something else without breaking, like the malleability of clay. Malleability — also called plasticity — has to do with whether something can be molded. Clay (or Play-Doh) is the best example of something with high malleability; it can be sculpted into almost anything, so it's very malleable. A cinder block has no malleability at all; it can't be shaped into anything. Wet cement has great malleability, unlike dry cement. A person could also express malleability, if he or she is wishy-washy and can easily be molded by others.

Example Sentences

Fanning’s ability to hop between a thorny Norwegian drama and a high-concept alien movie is exactly the kind of exciting malleability that audiences forced to wade through modern cinema’s sea of sameness deserve.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026

The malleability of the dog genome allows for enormous physical variety, she explained, meaning that breeders can push features to extremes—squashing snouts, piling on wrinkles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

One of the key challenges that the doctrine poses to regulatory governance is its malleability, thanks to the high court’s poor articulation of the philosophy’s scope and application.

From Slate • Jun. 13, 2025

Lee says collapses happen often during the printing phase because of the moisture and malleability of the clay.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2024

But more than the material nature of the gene, it was the sheer malleability of the genome—that X-rays could make such Silly Putty of genes—that stunned scientists.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee