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

• 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 48 megapixel camera houses a telephoto lens with 1x, 2x, 4x and 8× optical zoom and 8K recording capabilities. —James Powel, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

In Israel, resilience is not treated as a soft virtue but as a critical capability to absorb shocks, adapt fast, and rebuild after failure. —Rchin Bari, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025

Beijing’s relationship with Islamabad has long served as a low-cost, low-risk proxy strategy to constrain India, from nuclear enablement in the 1980s to the steady upgrading of Pakistani military capabilities. —Shyam Saran, Time, 10 Sep. 2025

Currently, shares are trading near $9, having increased by over 110% year-to-date from their early 2025 lows, as enthusiasm rises around record contract acquisitions, enhanced AI analytics capabilities, and the launch of next-generation satellites. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see capable

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