reliability

noun

re·​li·​abil·​i·​ty ri-ˌlī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce reliability (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being reliable
2
: the extent to which an experiment, test, or measuring procedure yields the same results on repeated trials

Examples of reliability in a Sentence

we never had reason to question the reliability of the park rangers in the event of an emergency
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, this kind of design must have policy clarity and is not without its reliability risks. 3. Diganta Sengupta, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 And the Omni promises to graph particle size with more reliability than previous attempts at home analyzers. Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 13 Aug. 2025 As the economy teeters amid weak jobs growth and ongoing debates about government data reliability, all eyes are on the BLS and whether its monthly jobs report will remain a fixture in tracking the health of American employment. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025 Kion Smith has been moved around between guard and tackle, showing versatility but not yet showing reliability at either. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reliability

Word History

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reliability was in 1810

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Cite this Entry

“Reliability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reliability. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

reliability

noun
re·​li·​abil·​i·​ty ri-ˌlī-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce reliability (audio)
plural reliabilities
: the quality or state of being reliable

Medical Definition

reliability

noun
re·​li·​abil·​i·​ty ri-ˌlī-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce reliability (audio)
plural reliabilities
: the extent to which an experiment, test, or measuring procedure yields the same results on repeated trials

More from Merriam-Webster on reliability

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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