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solubility

American  
[sol-yuh-bil-i-tee] / ˌsɒl jəˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

  1. the quality or property of being soluble; relative capability of being dissolved.


solubility British  
/ ˌsɒljʊˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

  1. the ability of a substance to dissolve; the quality of being soluble

  2. a measure of this ability for a particular substance in a particular solvent, equal to the quantity of substance dissolving in a fixed quantity of solvent to form a saturated solution under specified temperature and pressure. It is expressed in grams per cubic decametre, grams per hundred grams of solvent, moles per mole, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of solubility

First recorded in 1670–80; soluble + -ity


Explanation

Use the noun solubility to refer to how easily something dissolves in water or another liquid. Salt has high solubility, easily dissolving in water, while oil has low solubility in water, and sand is not at all soluble in water. Solubility is also a synonym for solvability, or how easy or difficult a particular problem is to solve. The solubility of your math homework is pretty much a sure thing. The solubility of some of the planet's more thorny issues — racism, climate change, violence — is less certain.

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Vocabulary lists containing solubility

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:

In our testing, we’ve found it capable of wide-ranging conversations about classical architecture, campground amenities, the solubility of selenium—you know, typical Friday night banter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 23, 2025

Mirkin explained that the issue lies not in the drug itself but in its poor solubility.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2025

The solvent extracts most of the caffeine and other chemical compounds with a similar solubility to caffeine from the coffee beans.

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2024

The solubility of the drug can also change.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 20, 2023

Alizarin Cyanine, Anthracene Blue and Brilliant Alizarin Blue were discovered later than the above-mentioned alizarin blues, and, owing to their greater solubility and other advantages, they have largely replaced them as substitutes for indigo.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various

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