availability

noun avail·abil·i·ty \ ə-ˌvā-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē \

|Updated on: 6 Jul 2018

Definition of availability

plural availabilities

1 : the quality or state of being available

trying to improve the availability of affordable housing

2 : an available person or thing

3 US : a usually brief session in which a public figure (such as a politician) is made available to answer questions from members of the press

a press availability

The rigors of campaigning are amply demonstrated in marathon days of radio and television talk shows, media availabilities, sessions with newspaper editorial boards … and fund-raising events.
—Steve Goldstein

Recent Examples of availability from the Web

Standard shelter grants are generally awarded in three-year cycles that are staggered so there aren’t gaps in availability.

— emily stewart, Vox, "The multibillion-dollar business of sheltering migrant children, explained," 23 June 2018
Many other urban-rural differences in health have been reported, including differences in the prevalence of various conditions and diseases and disparities in the availability and quality of health care services.

— nicholas bakalar, New York Times, "Obesity Rates Higher in Country Than City," 21 June 2018
The majority of the dispensaries are in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, leaving gaps in availability in the state’s farther flung counties.

— meredith cohn, baltimoresun.com, "Medical marijuana dispensary opens in Mount Vernon, co-owned by Hopkins medical professor," 20 June 2018
Worldwide changes in crop availability would influence food prices, too.

— anna groves, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Can Wisconsin’s corn take the heat? Study warns rising temperatures could be devastating," 19 June 2018
Other automakers are testing their services in limited availability, preferring small launches in a handful of cities to a wide release.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "Jaguar Land Rover’s new subscription service is UK-only for now," 15 June 2018
Eastern time: Trump participates in a media availability 6:30 p.m. local time/6:30 a.m.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Here’s a look at Trump’s full meeting schedule with Kim Jong Un," 11 June 2018
Ajax and RB Leipzig are both understood to be interested in the player's availability this summer too, with both sides renowned for developing young talent.

— SI.com, "Newcastle Reportedly Interested In Signing Talented Spurs Prospect and England U-20 International," 10 June 2018
For years American has been near the bottom of the IdeaWorks survey in availability.

— scott mccartney, WSJ, "Top Frequent-Flier Programs for 2018," 16 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'availability.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.