reliability

American

[ri-lahy-uh-bil-i-tee] / rɪˌlaɪ əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

Sometimes reliableness

noun

the ability to be relied on or depended on, as for accuracy, honesty, or achievement.

Other Word Forms

nonreliability noun

Etymology

Origin of reliability

reliable + -ity

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.

The DEA is supporting the Bolivian government as it conducts "reliability" screens on anti-narcotics officers using polygraph lie detectors.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

She also cast doubt on the reliability of Beth and Laura's commercial DNA test.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Some rail operators worry about the reliability of battery locomotives, especially in freezing temperatures.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

These rules reflect pragmatic judgments about access, reliability, and the realities of modern voting systems.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

What was at stake in the ‘Apology’ was not just the reasonableness of Christian faith, but the reliability of all the claims made by philosophers.

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