reliability
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of reliability
Explanation
It's nice when someone compliments your reliability because it means they think you are dependable. Things that are known for reliability? Your best friend, sunrise, sunset and unfortunately also taxes. The word is a new one and didn't become common until after 1850 during the Industrial Revolution. Before things were mass produced, how reliable they were was not such an issue. Interesting fact: reliability is an American word, and the Brits scoffed at its new usage.
Vocabulary lists containing reliability
Monster
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Mechanical Engineering
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Structural Engineering
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The head of Boeing's Commercial Airplanes division, Stephanie Pope, said that the order "reflects the strong demand we are seeing for the 737 MAX family's efficiency, reliability and versatility".
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
It is a near-term requirement for economic growth, energy security and reliability.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Each company will manage procurement activities, evaluate comparable previous lunar landers, and apply lessons learned to improve mission reliability.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
However, as George Russell pointed out, the problem did effectively level out the reliability issues suffered by both Mercedes drivers so far this season.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
We later found out that privately, despite the confidence expressed in his statements to local media and to 60 Minutes, Chapman had begun to worry about the reliability of the evidence against Walter.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
![]()
Pyongyang has released footage of undersea missile launches, but the projectiles’ reliabilities and capabilities are unknown.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 8, 2023
But there is a great difference in the reliabilities of reports made by trained and by untrained men.
From The Business of Mining A brief non-technical exposition of the principles involved in the profitable operation of mines by Hoskin, Arthur J.
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.