affordability

American  

[uh-fawrd-uh-bil-i-tee] / əˌfɔrd əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality of being affordable.

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Explanation

Affordability is a quality of being inexpensive. Because of the affordability of the apples at the orchard, we went ahead and bought a whole bushel. The adjective affordability describes things you can afford to pay for because they don't cost too much. People move to certain neighborhoods because of the affordability of housing there, and others decide the affordability of community college makes it a great place to get an education. Sometimes this word is used to mean "cost or price," so someone might say, "The affordability of healthcare these days is just terrible!"

Example Sentences

All this is unfolding amid an affordability crisis with continued high costs for medical care, housing, and, of course, food.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

Mejia, a union organizer, ran on a platform of affordability for the working class, including increasing funding for child care and raising taxes on the highest earners.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026

New York’s affordability debate is taking a familiar turn.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

“My North Star is about affordability, and the way we can achieve that is we have an excess of water,” said Serrano, now board chair of the authority.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

When he finished speaking, much of the talk in the room turned to affordability.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French