usability

noun

us·​abil·​i·​ty ˌyü-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce usability (audio)
: the quality or state of being usable : ease of use
When netbooks arrived a couple of years ago, they were so tiny, only spider monkeys would find them usable. But as they've inched up in size and usability, their sales have taken off.David Pogue
One of the other great problems of computer software is preoccupation with bells and whistles, rather than usability. Even software that began as easily usable can evolve over time into something so burdened with complicated (and trivial) features that it is a challenge to figure out how to do the simplest thing.Thomas Sowell

Examples of usability in a Sentence

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.
Budget-conscious shoppers who aren’t taxing the system with anything demanding ought to find that chip offers ample performance for everyday usability. PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025 Rather than chasing gimmicks, the company has doubled down on image quality, system reliability, and post-incident usability. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025 But Ford has done a credible job at balancing off-road stiffness with everyday usability. New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2025 Today’s models are making strides in usability. Michael C. Horowitz, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for usability

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of usability was in 1842

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Usability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usability. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on usability

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!