compressibility

noun

com·​press·​ibil·​i·​ty kəm-ˌpre-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

: capability of compression : the ability of something (such as a fluid) to be reduced in volume or size under pressure

When that water expands, it turns into a gas. The gas forms bubbles and those bubbles dilute the compressibility of the brake fluid.

—Motocross Action Magazine

… a month later there was a sweatshirt stuffed into my mail box and I was overcome by its compressibility.

—David Mamet

Examples of compressibility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fill power is a measure of down insulation’s compressibility. —Wes Siler, Outside Online, 4 Apr. 2025

Taking compressibility to the next level, this packing cube of sorts works similarly to a vacuum sealer. —Christina Liao, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

This fluid’s compressibility, viscosity and transparency are all programmable. —Simon Makin, Scientific American, 19 June 2024

It’s filled with 850-fill down insulation, which provides optimal warmth, comfort, compressibility, and packability, and the 10D recycled shell is both lightweight and durable. —Saryn Chorney, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2023

The key to this technology lies in the compressibility of air. —Kate Murphy, IEEE Spectrum, 7 Sep. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for compressibility

• acceptability
• accessibility
• adaptability
• admissibility
• advisability
• affordability
• allowability
• amenability
• amiability
• appealability
• applicability
• availability