usability

noun

us·​abil·​i·​ty ˌyü-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

: the quality or state of being usable : ease of use

Each feature is designed to enhance reliability, efficiency, and usability, ensuring dependable performance across a variety of scenarios.

—Lauren Carpenter

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

Our expert panel has tested image stabilized binoculars over long periods, testing them for their durability, optical characteristics and usability, including how good their stabilization is in a variety of real-world conditions. —Matt Morris, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2026

That’s a major upgrade for a vehicle aimed at affordability and daily usability. —ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026

This section explains how ethical controls sustain trust and long-term usability. —Ascend Agency, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026

Additional features include a dedicated office, three-car garage, seven gas fireplaces, and extensive snowmelt systems that provide access and year-round usability. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for usability

• affability
• audibility
• bistability
• capability
• changeability
• contractility
• credibility
• culpability
• disability
• disutility
• durability
• fallibility