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flexibility

flexibility

153 3.6
Ability to change plans or actions easily to fit new situations
  • noun
  • /flɛkˈsɪbɪlɪti/
translation icon : flexibilidad
  • He has shown great flexibility in adjusting his schedule to accommodate his team's needs.
  • allow flexibility
  • provide flexibility
  • adaptability and flexibility

This is a man who does not have as much flexibility with his time.

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Examples

  • For people, As for economies, adaptability and flexibility count for a great deal.

  • The first is having the flexibility to adapt services to meet the needs of individuals.

    Academic text (2011)
  • This is a man who does not have as much flexibility with his time.

  • Now, we need maximum flexibility to get this movie together.

  • In the current international climate, such flexibility will clearly be to our customer's advantage.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The dynamic U.S. economy, in other words, has plenty of flexibility but little security.

    Academic text (2008)
  • In theory, this would actually give you the flexibility to mix and match graphics cards.

  • And the problem is that they don't have the flexibility to choose their employer.

  • The executive branch should be given greater flexibility in executing budget and policy decisions.

    Academic text (1990)
  • When following legal requirements, school leaders should provide flexibility for students from CLD backgrounds.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

versatility
vsflexibility
22 5.8

Ability to do many different things well

is about general readiness to change rather than having many specific skills
adaptability
vsflexibility
11 3.9

Being able to change and work well in new situations

focuses more on willing or open attitude to change rather than mere adjustment
fluidity
vsflexibility
8 5.0

How easily someone or something changes to fit new situations

is the everyday willingness to change rather than just general changeability
plasticity
vsflexibility
  • Specialized
4 6.3

The ability to change or adapt easily in new situations

is more about human or social willingness to change rather than capacity
adjustability
vsflexibility
1 3.8

How easy it is to change something to fit different needs

highlights active willingness to change rather than being changeable by design
adaptiveness
vsflexibility
1 4.6

Ability to change easily to new situations

emphasizes a personal or intentional readiness to change rather than system capacity
suppleness
vsflexibility
1 4.7

Being able to change ideas or plans easily

is broader, covering both willingness and practical change ability
pliancy
vsflexibility
1 6.7

A quality of changing easily in mind or body

is more about the choice to change and openness to new ideas
pliability
vsflexibility
1 6.1

Able to change opinions or plans easily

stresses voluntary change and readiness rather than mere influenceability
flexibleness
vsflexibility
3.9

The ability to change to fit new situations

is about the personal readiness to change rather than the neutral trait
adaptivity
vsflexibility
6.5

The ability to change to fit new situations

centres on human willingness and ease of changing in situations
pliantness
vsflexibility
7.7

Ability to bend or change easily

focuses more on willingness and ease of adapting to situations

Antonyms

rigidity
  • Specialized
3 6.0

Not able to bend or change shape easily

Refusing to change ideas or plans

Compounds

Ability to keep your body steady while moving and to bend easily

How Adaptable

versatility
22 5.8
adaptability
11 3.9
flexibility
153 3.6
openness
35 3.9

Surface Forms

flexibility singular
flexibilities plural

Morphology

flexibility = flexible (transparent) = flex + ity

Standard nominalization from 'flexible' denoting the quality or state of being flexible; the 'adaptability' sense is a common, non-technical extension of the adjective.

Etymology

Flexibility comes from the root flex meaning 'to bend', and people used that picture for plans and ideas that can change. So flexibility means being willing or able to 'bend' your plans or actions to fit new situations.