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

Panattoni is positioning itself to lead this next phase, including specialist capability for data centres and AI related infrastructure, which are expected to expand rapidly for decades. —CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026

Their study on the jagged frontier shows that AI capability spikes and dips across activities rather than rising smoothly with difficulty. —Arkansas Online, 8 Jan. 2026

Teague said the company will evolve that capability over time to determine new formats, categories and content types. —Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026

Upgrades at the Cal Fire Ramona Air Attack Base will strengthen wildfire response capabilities for our region, reinforcing Ramona’s critical role in protecting lives and property across San Diego County. —Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 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