flexibility
gb/flˌɛksəbˈɪləti/ us/flˌɛksəbˈɪləti/
A2
English
~ 5200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
property
1
ability to adapt or change
The ability to change your plans or way of doing things when something is different or new.
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[something] has flexibility to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"much flexibilities"* instead of *"a lot of flexibility"*, because *flexibility* is an uncountable noun. Another mistake is using the adjective form where the noun is needed, e.g. *"This job has flexible"* instead of *"This job has flexibility"* or *"This job is flexible"*.
Synonyms
adaptability (Stresses how easily someone or something can adjust to new conditions.)
|
versatility (Suggests being able to do many different things or play many roles, not only to change plans.)
Antonyms
rigidity (Suggests an unwillingness or inability to change plans or behavior.)
|
inflexibility (Direct opposite, emphasizing that change or adjustment is not allowed or not possible.)
Collocations
give you flexibility
|greater flexibility
|flexibility in scheduling
|flexibility in decision-making
|a degree of flexibility
|offer more flexibility
Themes
work
|business
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This job offers a lot of flexibility in terms of working hours.
- We need more flexibility in our budget to handle unexpected costs.
- Her flexibility made it easy for the team to change the project plan at the last minute.
- The new policy gives managers greater flexibility to reward high performers.
- Online courses provide flexibility for students who also work full-time.
Learner examples
- This company gives workers flexibility to start early or late.
- I like the flexibility of working from home two days a week.
- We need some flexibility in our plan in case something goes wrong.
- The ticket has flexibility, so you can change the date.
- He has no flexibility and refuses to change his idea.
Noun
A2
property
2
physical ability to bend easily
The ability of your body or something else to bend or move easily without hurting or breaking.
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[something] has/improves [body part] flexibility
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *flexibility* with *fitness*. *Fitness* is a general condition of health and strength, while *flexibility* is only about how easily you can bend or move your body or a material.
Synonyms
suppleness (Often used in fitness or dance, suggests smooth, graceful ease of movement.)
|
pliability (Can refer to bodies or materials; slightly more technical or formal.)
Antonyms
stiffness (Describes difficulty in bending or moving the body or a part of it.)
|
rigidity (Emphasizes being hard and not bending at all, often for materials.)
Collocations
improve flexibility
|increase flexibility
|flexibility exercises
|joint flexibility
|muscle flexibility
|loss of flexibility
Themes
health
|sports
|science
|body
Examples
- Regular stretching can greatly improve your flexibility.
- Yoga helps maintain flexibility in your back and hips.
- With age, people often lose flexibility in their joints.
- The material was chosen for its flexibility and strength.
- Dancers need both strength and flexibility to perform safely.
Learner examples
- She does yoga to increase her flexibility.
- My legs have very little flexibility after the accident.
- These exercises help children develop good flexibility.
- The plastic has enough flexibility to bend without breaking.
- Good flexibility in your shoulders can prevent pain.
Noun
B2
state
3
freedom or room for choice
The freedom to choose different options or times inside a plan, system, or agreement.
Usage pattern:
[something] provides/allows flexibility for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *choice* instead of *flexibility* in phrases like *"The job has choice"*, which is unnatural. Say *"The job offers flexibility"* or *"The job gives you many choices"*.
Synonyms
freedom (General word; here it means not being tightly controlled by rules or limits.)
|
leeway (Informal; suggests having extra space or time to make changes or small mistakes.)
Antonyms
restriction (Emphasizes limits that reduce or remove choice.)
|
tightness (In contexts like budgets or schedules, means there is little or no extra room to change things.)
Collocations
financial flexibility
|built-in flexibility
|allow for flexibility
|flexibility in repayment
|flexibility in terms of price
|flexibility in the contract
Themes
business
|finance
|work
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The loan offers flexibility in repayment options.
- These tickets give you flexibility to travel on any day within a month.
- We need some flexibility in the contract to respond to market changes.
- A strong cash position gives the company flexibility during a crisis.
- The system is designed with enough flexibility to add new features later.
Learner examples
- This phone plan gives you flexibility to use more data some months.
- The hotel booking has flexibility, so you can change the dates.
- Our budget has no flexibility this year.
- The new rules leave little flexibility for teachers.
- Savings give families flexibility when something bad happens.
Grammar
Dictionary form
flexibility
IPA
GB/flˌɛksəbˈɪləti/
US/flˌɛksəbˈɪləti/
Syllables & stress
flex - ib - il - ity (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (il)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: flexibility
- Plural: flexibilities, flexibility
Word family
Expressions
allow for flexibility
1/əlˈaʊ fɚ flˌɛksəbˈɪləti/
fixed phrase
plan so changes are possible
To make a plan, rule, or system so that people can change it later if they need to.
Examples
- We should allow for flexibility in the timeline in case of delays.
- The contract does not allow for flexibility if our needs change.
- Good project managers always allow for flexibility in their plans.
built-in flexibility
1/bˈɪlt ˈɪn flˌɛksəbˈɪləti/
fixed phrase
flexibility designed into something
Flexibility that is planned from the beginning, so a system, product, or plan can change easily later.
Examples
- The software has built-in flexibility, so you can add new modules as your business grows.
- We need built-in flexibility in the schedule to deal with delays.
- The design includes built-in flexibility to meet future safety standards.
flexibility at work
1/flˌɛksəbˈɪləti ˈæt wˈɚk/
fixed phrase
freedom in working conditions
Having some choice about when, where, or how you work, such as flexible hours or working from home.
Examples
- Many employees now expect flexibility at work, including the option to work from home.
- Flexibility at work helps parents manage childcare and their careers.
- The company improved flexibility at work by introducing flexible start and finish times.