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

In its transparency and boundless views, the Geffen Galleries speak of sunshine and mobility; never before has a major California museum so completely captured the state’s carefree affect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Moreover, Fifa has worked for years with host cities on their transportation and mobility plans, including advocating for millions of dollars in federal funding to support host cities for transportation.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

It affects a person years after a measles infection, often starting with mobility issues and progressing to paralysis.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

But if mobility worsens, especially when the decline is rapid, “costs can increase exponentially,” says Evan Farr, certified elder-law attorney and retirement planner at Farr Law Firm.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

The original exemplar of American social mobility was almost certainly Benjamin Franklin, one of seventeen children of a candle maker.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• flexibility
• maneuverability