capability

noun

ca·​pa·​bil·​i·​ty ˌkā-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

plural capabilities

1

: the quality or state of being capable

also : ability

The mayor has demonstrated his capability to handle municipal problems.

2

: a feature or faculty capable of development : potentiality

This vacant urban district has great capabilities.

3

: the facility or potential for an indicated use or deployment

the capability of a metal to be fused

nuclear capability

Synonyms of capability

• qualification
• ability
• expertise
• talent
• stuff

Examples of capability in a Sentence

The device has the capability of recording two television channels at once.

the nature of the tasks to which you are assigned will depend on your capabilities

Recent Examples on the Web

The conflict began on June 13, 2025, when Israel targeted the heart of Iran’s nuclear program and its missile capabilities — an unprecedented attack that also killed several of Iran’s most powerful figures. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 13 June 2026

The models built on the release of Claude Mythos Preview, which captivated Wall Street and government officials with its advanced cybersecurity capabilities in April. —Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 13 June 2026

So even if fully autonomous systems remain rare, expect more drones and robots to gain specific autonomous AI capabilities that complement human decision-making on the battlefield. —Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026

This matters because energy, cooling, resilience and sovereign capability must be planned carefully to prevent issues with privacy, security and data leakage. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing capability

• nuclear capability

Rhymes for capability

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