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
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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.
In the first quarter of 2026, official data put growth at 5.6 percent, but analysts have expressed doubts about the reliability of the figures.
From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026
If you are considering a free VPN, be sure to examine the VPN’s performance, reliability and potential drawbacks.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026
China’s “railway brain” initiative utilizes AI and centralized digital twins to coordinate freight lanes, dramatically improving reliability and efficiency.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
"I can't believe that I'm second in the championship, and I'm really happy and thankful for that, and I couldn't have done that without this team, without the reliability that we have," he said.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
Perhaps war was due to fear: to fear of reliability.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
