reliability
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
- nonreliability noun
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
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Mechanical Engineering
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Structural Engineering
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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.
Without that knowledge, it is difficult to improve the performance and reliability of quantum systems.
From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026
“Global buyers may increasingly prioritize reliability over cost, which could accelerate a shift away from geopolitically exposed regions.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
Neighbouring Arab Gulf states have frequently expressed concerns about the plant's reliability and raised the risk of radioactive leaks in the event of a major earthquake.
From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026
She also cast doubt on the reliability of Beth and Laura's commercial DNA test.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
In a world without peer review, texts, in order to convey trustworthiness, reliability and accuracy, had to employ literary devices.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
