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

The bills died in committee and DART agreed to return 5% sales tax back to cities as a compromise — such agreements have been called a general mobility program. —Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026

This modularity reflects an increasingly industry trend in flexible robot architecture, where components like hands, arms, or even mobility bases can be switched around for other applications without the need for redesigning an entire system. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026

Accessibility Hotel Saint Vincent complies with all ADA requirements including a choice of three different room types that are mobility/hearing accessible. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026

The largest share — about $250 million — would go to transportation projects, including bridges, street rehabilitation, bikeways, sidewalks, urban trails, and downtown mobility projects. —Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 23 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