malleability
Americannoun
-
the state of being malleable, or capable of being shaped, as by hammering or pressing.
the extreme malleability of gold.
-
adaptability.
the malleability of an infant's brain.
Other Word Forms
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:
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.
Vocabulary lists containing malleability
Structure and Properties of Matter - Middle School
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Structure and Properties of Matter - High School
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Daughter of the Deep
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Teachers who doubt their math ability often worry they will transfer their math aversion onto impressionable students, educators say.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 5, 2023
The purpose of my research is to change how people think about math ability and inability, which means a lot of my time is spent reading about mathematics teaching and learning.
From Salon • Nov. 22, 2022
Johnson says she got her math ability from her father, Josh Coleman, who was a generation removed from slavery and had only a sixth-grade education.
From Washington Post • May 28, 2021
Shoring up math ability in schools for future workers is paramount.
From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2018
Keith Stanovich wrote an entire book about What Intelligence Tests Miss. Reasoning and rationality more closely resemble what we mean when we say a person is smart than spatial skills and math ability.
From Scientific American • Oct. 3, 2017
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
