FLEXIBILITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does flexibility mean? 

• FLEXIBILITY (noun)
  The noun FLEXIBILITY has 3 senses:

1. the property of being flexible; easily bent or shaped

2. the quality of being adaptable or variable

3. the trait of being easily persuaded

  Familiarity information: FLEXIBILITY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FLEXIBILITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The property of being flexible; easily bent or shaped

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

flexibility; flexibleness

Hypernyms ("flexibility" is a kind of...):

malleability; plasticity (the property of being physically malleable; the property of something that can be worked or hammered or shaped without breaking)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "flexibility"):

bendability; pliability (the property of being easily bent without breaking)

whip ((golf) the flexibility of the shaft of a golf club)

Antonym:

inflexibility (a lack of physical flexibility)

Derivation:

flexible (bending and snapping back readily without breaking)

flexible (able to flex; able to bend easily)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quality of being adaptable or variable

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

flexibility; flexibleness

Context example:

he enjoyed the flexibility of his working arrangement

Hypernyms ("flexibility" is a kind of...):

adaptability (the ability to change (or be changed) to fit changed circumstances)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "flexibility"):

wiggle room (flexibility of interpretation or of options)

Antonym:

inflexibility (the quality of being rigid and rigorously severe)

Derivation:

flexible (able to adjust readily to different conditions)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The trait of being easily persuaded

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

flexibility; tractability; tractableness

Hypernyms ("flexibility" is a kind of...):

trait (a distinguishing feature of your personal nature)

Attribute:

manipulable; tractable (easily managed (controlled or taught or molded))

intractable (not tractable; difficult to manage or mold)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "flexibility"):

manageability; manageableness (capable of being managed or controlled)

docility (the trait of being agreeably submissive and manageable)

domestication; tameness (the attribute of having been domesticated)

amenability; amenableness; cooperativeness (the trait of being cooperative)

obedience (the trait of being willing to obey)

Derivation:

flexible (making or willing to make concessions)

 Context examples 

A finding that the flexibility of a joint is below the expected range of normal for that individual.

(Loss of Range of Motion, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by a decrease in joint flexibility of any joint.

(Joint Range of Motion Decreased, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

A region of relative flexibility between the variable and constant regions of an antibody molecule.

(Immunoglobulin Hinge Region, NCI Thesaurus)

Flexibility exercises stretch your muscles and can help your body stay limber.

(Exercise for Seniors, NIH: National Institute on Aging)

Decreased flexibility of a lumbar spine joint.

(Lumbar Spine Joint Range of Motion Decreased, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by a decrease in flexibility of a lumbar spine joint.

(Lumbar Spine Joint Range of Motion Decreased, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

This leads to vasodilation, improves erythrocyte flexibility, and enhances blood flow.

(Pentoxifylline, NCI Thesaurus)

A form of exercise that combines body movement with mental focus and controlled breathing to improve strength, balance, flexibility, and overall health.

(Mind/body Exercise, NCI Dictionary)

A form of exercise that combines body movement, mental focus, and controlled breathing to improve strength, balance, flexibility, and overall health.

(Mind-body exercise, NCI Dictionary)

Compared to the tablet formulation, the liquid is easier to swallow and offers more flexibility and accuracy in dosing, which is beneficial for use in pediatric patients.

(Mercaptopurine Oral Suspension, NCI Thesaurus)