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

Enhance comfort with soft textiles like cushions, throws and outdoor rugs, and incorporate lighting elements such as lanterns to extend usability into the evening. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 12 May 2024

Leading hospitals, CROs, clinical laboratories, government and academic organizations trust HALO AP® to provide the power and usability needed to practice modern pathology. —Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above