mobility

American  

[moh-bil-i-tee] / moʊˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality of being mobile.

2. Sociology. social mobility.

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mobility British  

/ məʊˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the ability to move physically

   a knee operation has restricted his mobility

   mobility is part of physical education

2. sociol (of individuals or social groups) movement within or between classes and occupations See also vertical mobility horizontal mobility

3. time that a resident of a secure unit is allowed to spend outside the unit, as preparation for an eventual return to society

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Other Word Forms

• intermobility
  noun
• nonmobility
  noun

Etymology

Origin of mobility

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English mobilite, from Latin mōbilitās. See mobile, -ity

Compare meaning

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

• motility vs. mobility

Explanation

Mobility is the ability to move freely. If your basketball injury causes you to lose mobility in your knee, that means you can’t move it very well. Mobility often refers to whether you can move an injured body part, like a joint or a limb, but it can also describe movement in general. If you have great mobility on the tennis court, that means you move freely and easily, running down shots with ease. Mobility can also describe movement between different social or economic levels. Your fancy new job may offer opportunities for upward mobility.

Example Sentences

The smart mobility tech company generates revenue from the tolls tracked by in-vehicle transponders and the fees rental car drivers pay to manage their tolls, which Verra Mobility then shares with the rental car companies.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

"The genetic patterns suggest that saltwater crocodile populations remained connected over long periods and across great distances, pointing to the high mobility of this species," explains first author Stefanie Agne of the University of Potsdam.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

Now, with those entry-level jobs disappearing, there’s danger that “the pathways that provide mobility disintegrate and you lose the American promise of opportunity,” Muro said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

Spaeny and Melton were cast as Ashley and Austin, a Gen-Z couple working at a Montecito country club, dreaming and scheming toward upward mobility, a good 18 months before filming began in early 2025.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

But the initial mobility studies were flawed, economists now say.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• flexibility
• maneuverability