motility
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
- nonmotility noun
- supermotility noun
Etymology
Origin of motility
First recorded in 1800–10; from Latin mōt-, stem of movēre “to move” + -ility ( def. )
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How does motility compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
In biology, motility is the ability of organisms and fluid to move or get around. A microbiologist might test and compare the motility of various single-celled organisms. An easy way to remember that motility means the ability to move without help is the mot- at the root of the word. It's the same root that's found in "motor," which is, of course, the engine that drives a car. If you've got good motility then your motor is working. After a car accident, an athlete's friends are understandably concerned about her motility. Motility is something you tend to take for granted — until you sprain an ankle.
Vocabulary lists containing motility
Microbiology - High School
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Silent Spring
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Microbiology - Middle School
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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.
Diamond said that in the company’s clinical research on men with male-factor infertility, findings showed its male prenatals significantly boosted sperm motility, or how well the sperm moves.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
The type of motility issue differed by sex, with females more likely to develop diarrhea and males more likely to experience constipation.
From Science Daily • Mar. 17, 2026
The study, published in the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, suggests that sperm's motility levels remain consistent across different climates, instead changing with the seasons.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026
To address it, their doctors have tried a number of tweaks, including a sperm sorting technique meant to improve sperm quality and motility.
From Slate • Jan. 13, 2025
Experiments show that the motility of bull sperm is decreased by dinitrophenol, which interferes with the energy- coupling mechanism with inevitable loss of energy.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
