motility

noun

mo·​til·​i·​ty mō-ˈti-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being motile : capability of movement

Actin is found in almost all kinds of non-muscle cells where it is thought to have an important role in cell motility.

—Toshio Yanagida et al.

Checks shape, concentration, motility, and number of sperm.

—Michael Gold

2

: the ability of the muscles of the digestive tract to undergo contraction

… some GERD patients have impaired gut motility, meaning that their stomachs empty too slowly.

—Andrew Weil

"Esophageal motility" refers to the action of the esophagus walls' musculature in propelling food downward to the stomach.

—Paul G. Donohue

Patients with scleroderma may have abnormal motility of the small intestine …

—Hani C. Soudah et al.

Examples of motility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Signals are sent to the brain about the level of satiety and nutrients, the brain increases or decreases digestive juices and regulates the speed of gut motility depending on information received from the nervous system. —Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 13 June 2024

This supplement can help protect sperm from oxidative damage and may help sperm motility. —Casey Seiden, Parents, 19 May 2024

Our list of reasonable diagnoses was expanding and contracting, replaced with irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, gut motility issues, all overlying a stressed individual barely keeping it together. —Eric Snoey, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024

Acetyl-l-carnitine can also impact sperm motility and vitality; in fact, men who have abnormal semen parameters are more likely to be found to have low carnitine levels. —Casey Seiden, Parents, 19 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

motility

noun

mo·​til·​i·​ty mō-ˈtil-ət-ē 

plural motilities

1

: the quality or state of being motile : capability of movement

sperm motility

2

: the ability of the muscles of the digestive tract to undergo contraction

Patients with scleroderma may have abnormal motility of the small intestine …

—Hani C. Soudah et al.