mobility
Americannoun
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the ability to move physically
a knee operation has restricted his mobility
mobility is part of physical education
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sociol (of individuals or social groups) movement within or between classes and occupations See also vertical mobility horizontal mobility
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time that a resident of a secure unit is allowed to spend outside the unit, as preparation for an eventual return to society
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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:
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.
Vocabulary lists containing mobility
Human Geography - Middle School
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Human Geography - High School
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Out of My Mind
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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.
For Dr Cherti, football cannot remain immune to societal shifts: "The national team is no longer only a reflection of population inside the border. It's increasingly a reflection of migration, history and global mobility."
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026
Dr. Macdonald argues that physical activity should be viewed not only as a way to avoid disease, but also as a tool for maintaining strength, mobility, and independence throughout life.
From Science Daily • Jun. 23, 2026
For decades, the country’s consumer story was built around upward mobility: apartments, cars, electronics, luxury goods, overseas travel, and brand upgrades.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
Among upper-middle class respondents, more than three-quarters said they grew up in a lower economic class—a finding that suggests substantial economic mobility.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
I had brought my family’s upward mobility out onto the road.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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.
