flexibility

[ flek-suh-bil-i-tee ]

noun

1. the ability to bend easily or without breaking:

   The shoe soles are made from elastic materials to provide perfect flexibility.

2. the quality of being easily adapted or of offering many different options:

   This blogging platform is becoming more and more popular because of its flexibility, power, and simplicity.

3. the ability and willingness to adjust one’s thinking or behavior:

   Being a resilient parent is all about flexibility.

Other Words From

• hy·per·flex·i·bil·i·ty noun
• non·flex·i·bil·i·ty noun
• un·flex·i·bil·i·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flexibility¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin flexibilitāt-, stem of flexibilitās, equivalent to flexibili(s) “pliant, easily bent” + -tās -ty ²( def ); flexible ( def )

Example Sentences

Their machines promise the flexibility of a helicopter, but without the cost, noise and emissions.

From BBC

However, according to a person briefed on the agreement but not authorized to speak publicly, the Angels’ deal with FanDuel covers three years, which would give the team guaranteed revenue now and flexibility to join a national streaming package thereafter should the league be able to offer one.

From Los Angeles Times

Presumably if Van Nistelrooy were entirely confident about the flexibility of players he has been working with since the start of the season, a straightforward ‘yes’ would have come into his head.

From BBC

And he says even with changes such as the government giving councils more flexibility to allow RTB receipts to be used alongside cash from other streams such as funds given by developers who get planning permission for private schemes, there is still some red tape in the way of using different types of funding together to build council housing.

From BBC

House Republicans proposed converting the program from one that covered a percentage of state spending on healthcare to enrollees into a block-grant structure, that lacked the flexibility needed to confront disease outbreaks as they occur.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• resilience