ability

abil·i·ty

noun \ə-ˈbi-lə-tē\

plural abil·i·ties

Definition of ABILITY

1

a : the quality or state of being able <ability of the soil to hold water>; especially : physical, mental, or legal power to perform

b : competence in doing : skill

2

: natural aptitude or acquired proficiency <children whose abilities warrant higher education>

Examples of ABILITY

1. a young woman with many remarkable musical abilities
2. a young woman of great musical ability
3. She has shown some ability with foreign languages.

Origin of ABILITY

Middle English abilite, from Anglo-French, from Latin habilitat-, habilitas, from habilis apt, skillful — more at able

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ABILITY

Synonyms

capability, capableness, capacity, competence, competency, faculty

Antonyms

disability, inability, incapability, incapableness, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency, ineptitude, ineptness

Related Words

aptitude, aptness, endowment, equipment, facility, gift, knack, talent; address, adroitness, deftness, dexterity, hand, prowess, skill; gray matter, instinct, intelligence, ken, reason, understanding; might, potency, puissance, staying power, stuff; adequacy, effectiveness, effectualness, fitness, form, influence, resourcefulness, usefulness; means, resources, wherewithal

Near Antonyms

helplessness, impotence, paralysis, powerlessness, weakness; defectiveness, deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, uselessness; debilitation, disablement, impairment, incapacitation

Rhymes with ABILITY

agility, anility, civility, debility, docility, ductility, facility, fertility, fragility, futility, gentility, gracility, hostility, humility, lability, mobility, motility, nobility, nubility, scurrility, sectility, servility, stability, sterility, suability, tactility, utility, vagility, virility