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

The touchscreen is super responsive and there's even a physical button to improve usability. —Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 10 June 2024

New power options, including a new battery adapter, and mounting options deliver greater usability and portability to this powerhouse lighting solution. —Sacramento Bee, 5 June 2024

The roll-up feature quickly converts it into a capri, increasing the usability. —Karthika Gupta, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2024

The companies were then analyzed by over 8,000 participants based on the following factors: Product innovation: The attractiveness, design, usability and uniqueness of a company's products and services. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above