mobility

noun

mo·​bil·​i·​ty mō-ˈbi-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being mobile or movable

… its efforts were supported by the cavalry which … compensated for the infantry's lack of mobility.

—R. M. Ogorkiewicz

… it becomes cost-effective and socially advantageous to provide urban mobility by means of metros: urban rail mass transit systems on exclusive rights-of-way.

—Michael A Niedzielski et al.

: ability or capacity to move

… the physical challenges of vision loss, hearing loss, and reduced mobility.

—Vicki Bloom and Benjamin B. Green-Field

When large doses of steroids restored mobility, they also created irritability, insatiable appetite, and facial hair …

—Whitney Scott

2

: the ability to change one's social or socioeconomic position in a community and especially to improve it

A large body of academic research shows that inequality and lack of social mobility hurt not just those at the bottom; they hurt everyone.

—Rana Foroohar

The mythology of the American Dream has made it difficult to start a serious conversation about how to create more opportunity in our society, since many of us still believe that our mobility is the result of our elbow grease and nothing more.

—Rana Foroohar

see also upward mobility

Examples of mobility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Accessibility Nimmo Bay welcomes wheelchair users and guests with limited mobility—cabins and public spaces are accessible with staff support—but full independence can be challenging given the remote setting's rustic boardwalks, floating docks, and uneven natural terrain. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026

As automakers and startups accelerate research and development in this area, solid-state technology is increasingly seen as a key driver of the next generation of electric mobility, CarNewsChina writes. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026

The wooden pathways connecting the buildings are wide, many public areas are step-free, and six ADA-compliant rooms are designed to accommodate guests with mobility needs. —Amber Kallor, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026

His responsibilities exposed him to the complex environment universities encounter when seeking to develop international initiatives, from navigating regulatory landscapes to supporting faculty mobility and aligning academic structures beyond national borders. —Jason Phillips, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mobility

• micro-mobility
• mobility scooter
• upward mobility

Rhymes for mobility

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• facility
• fertility
• fragility
• futility
• gentility
• hostility