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

Technology executives told me that agents are being implemented, but there are varying degrees of scale and capabilities. —Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026

The startup gains apparent capability but loses operational confidence. —Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

And all three understand that only the United States has the capability to guarantee that outcome. —Paul McCarthy, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026

Earlier this month, Intel announced that the Panther Lake design for processors was now available in devices — with Tan touting their capabilities at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 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