usability

noun

us·​abil·​i·​ty ˌyü-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

: the quality or state of being usable : ease of use

When netbooks arrived a couple of years ago, they were so tiny, only spider monkeys would find them usable. But as they've inched up in size and usability, their sales have taken off.

—David Pogue

One of the other great problems of computer software is preoccupation with bells and whistles, rather than usability. Even software that began as easily usable can evolve over time into something so burdened with complicated (and trivial) features that it is a challenge to figure out how to do the simplest thing.

—Thomas Sowell

Examples of usability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While major product updates take time, businesses that commit to consistently improving usability show they’re invested in their customers’ success. —Roli Saxena, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

Apple's demo this week provides the strongest indication yet that passkey developers are making meaningful progress in improving usability. —Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025

No More Apple Help: The End of Warranty and Support The first usability windows that will close are a computer's initial warranty period and the termination of service from Apple customer support. —Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 10 June 2025

This article offers an in-depth look at the technology, key functions, and usability of the Dreame Z1 Pro for general consumers and smart-home adopters. —Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 5 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for usability

• affability
• audibility
• bistability
• capability
• changeability
• contractility
• credibility
• culpability
• disability
• disutility
• durability
• fallibility