capability

noun ca·pa·bil·i·ty \ ˌkā-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Examples: capability in a Sentence

Definition of capability

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

See capability defined for English-language learners

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 of capability from the Web

But despite a fertile soil, ample rain, good equipment and adequate farming capabilities, the farmers say their yields were significantly lower than expected.

— kristine phillips, chicagotribune.com, "Black soybean farmers say they were deliberately sold defective seeds because of their race," 12 July 2018
The application lists services such as a kitchen with soup and juice-making capability, nutrition education programs and a mobile produce truck that will take groceries to residents who can’t get to the store.

— madeline mitchell, Cincinnati.com, "Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation uses $100K grant to build grocery store," 6 July 2018
The tech industry has been doubling down on software and artificial intelligence capabilities, which still hold huge potential.

— geoffrey fowler, courant.com, "Future Phones: They Fold Like Napkins, Have 9 Cameras, Charge Over Thin Air," 6 July 2018
Get our daily newsletter Time, and capabilities, have changed.

— The Economist, "Chinese and US tech giants go at it in emerging markets," 5 July 2018
Apolong will come with level 4 autonomous driving capabilities, which do not require a driver within a specific geographic area, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

— rachel becker, The Verge, "Baidu will launch its autonomous buses in Japan next year," 4 July 2018
Forbes has previously reported on Ability's capabilities and sales, including to a client in Mexico.

— craig timberg, Houston Chronicle, "How spies can use your cellphone to find you - and eavesdrop on your calls and texts, too," 30 May 2018
So even officers not involved but trying to find out what was happening in an incident were taxing the capabilities of the system.

— larry barszewski, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Broward not doing enough to fix police radios if another mass shooting occurs," 8 May 2018
The energetic central midfielder has become a firm fans' favorite on the terraces for his unwavering work rate and destructive capabilities, and whoever manages Chelsea next season would be mad to let the former Caen man leave in any capacity.

— SI.com, "Report: N'Golo Kante to Reject PSG in Favor of Staying at Chelsea," 3 May 2018

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