reliable
Americanadjective
adjective
Related Words
Reliable, infallible, trustworthy apply to persons, objects, ideas, or information that can be depended upon with confident certainty. Reliable suggests consistent dependability of judgment, character, performance, or result: a reliable formula, judge, car, meteorologist. Infallible suggests the complete absence of error, breakdown, or poor performance: an infallible test, system, marksman. Trustworthy emphasizes the steady and honest dependability which encourages one's confidence, belief, or trust: trustworthy and accurate reports.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reliable
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How does reliable compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Calling something reliable means you can count on it to come through when you need it; it's dependable. If you're headed out for an around-the-world sailing trip, hopefully your lifejacket is reliable. You can certainly rely on something reliable because it's trustworthy and responsible. Reliable people usually show up on time, never flake out, and always tell the truth. A reliable car isn't likely to break down and will get you from place to place safely. And if you happen to lose your trusty sidekick, good luck looking for a reliable replacement.
Vocabulary lists containing reliable
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Positive Words to Describe a Person
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"My Favorite Chaperone," Vocabulary from the short story
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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.
PIK collected as part of a loan payoff seems a less reliable source of dividend cash than regularly paid cash interest, says Nick Nemeth, a consultant and independent analyst who has studied private credit.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
Scientists in Sweden have developed a more reliable way to create insulin-producing cells from human stem cells, bringing new momentum to efforts to treat type 1 diabetes.
From Science Daily • May 6, 2026
Organizers said they didn’t meet the event’s requirements — at least 5% support in at least two reliable polls.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
Since late 2022, buying the “long bond” when yields were at 5% — or slightly above that psychologically important level — has been a reliable moneymaker for traders.
From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026
Brahe at first thought that he had obtained a reliable figure for the parallax of Mars which proved the Ptolemaic system was mistaken, although he later realized that there were problems with it.
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.
