portability
gb/pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/ us/pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
property
1
easy-to-carry quality
how easy something is to carry or take with you
Usage pattern:
portability of [something]
Common mistake:
Use portable as the adjective: a portable speaker, not a portability speaker.
Synonyms
mobility (broader; can describe people, vehicles, or the ability to move)
|
compactness (emphasizes small size, which often helps portability)
Antonyms
bulkiness (emphasizes being too large or heavy to carry easily)
|
immobility (emphasizes inability to be moved)
Collocations
excellent portability
|easy portability
|greater portability
|maximum portability
|lightweight portability
|portability and convenience
|designed for portability
|sacrifice portability
|improve portability
Themes
daily_life
|consumer_goods
|travel
|technology
Examples
- The main advantage of the mini projector is its portability.
- For hikers, portability matters more than a large screen or extra features.
- The stroller folds flat for easy portability on buses and trains.
Learner examples
- I bought this laptop for its portability.
- Portability is important when you travel.
Noun
technical
C1
property
2
compatibility across platforms
how easily software or data can be used on different computers, devices, or systems
Usage pattern:
portability of [software/code/data] across/between [systems/platforms]
Common mistake:
Portability is not exactly the same as interoperability: interoperability means systems work together; portability means something can be moved to or run in another environment.
Synonyms
compatibility (broader; means something can work with a particular system)
|
cross-platform support (emphasizes a product feature rather than the general quality)
Antonyms
platform dependence (means something is tied to one system or platform)
|
incompatibility (means something cannot work with another system)
Collocations
software portability
|code portability
|cross-platform portability
|platform portability
|application portability
|portability layer
|portability testing
|ensure portability
|improve portability
|limited portability
Themes
technology
|software
|computing
|engineering
Examples
- The developers avoided system-specific features to improve portability.
- The library was rewritten in standard C for better portability across operating systems.
- Portability is a key requirement for apps that must run on both iOS and Android.
Learner examples
- The team tested the app's portability on different phones.
- Good portability helps software run on many systems.
Noun
business
C1
property
3
transferability when circumstances change
the ability to keep or move something such as a benefit, account, or phone number when you change jobs, companies, or providers
Usage pattern:
portability of [benefits/rights/accounts/services] between/from [providers/employers/plans]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse portability with probability; portability is about being portable or transferable.
Synonyms
transferability (more general; means the ability to be transferred)
|
continuity (emphasizes that access or coverage continues without a break)
Antonyms
non-transferability (means something cannot be transferred)
|
lock-in (emphasizes being stuck with one provider, employer, or system)
Collocations
benefits portability
|pension portability
|health insurance portability
|number portability
|portability rights
|portability rules
|portability provisions
|ensure portability
|improve portability
|portability option
Themes
business
|employment
|law
|finance
|telecom
|healthcare
Examples
- New rules increased the portability of pensions between employers.
- Customers wanted portability so they could keep their phone numbers when switching carriers.
- The contract offers some portability of unused training funds if an employee moves to another branch.
Learner examples
- Portability lets workers keep some benefits when they change jobs.
- Number portability means you can keep your old phone number.
Grammar
Dictionary form
portability
IPA
GB/pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/
US/pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/
Syllables & stress
port - ab - il - ity (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (il)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: portability
- Plural: portability
Expressions
benefits portability
1/bˈɛnəfɪts pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
business
movable employee benefits
the ability to keep work benefits when you change jobs
Examples
- Freelancers often lack benefits portability between short-term contracts.
- Benefits portability was one of the union's main demands.
- The new system was designed to improve benefits portability for part-time workers.
cloud portability
1/klˈaʊd pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
technical
movable cloud workloads
the ability to move cloud apps or data from one cloud service to another
Examples
- Cloud portability reduces the risk of being locked into one provider.
- The company chose open standards to support cloud portability.
- Poor cloud portability can make a future migration expensive.
data portability
1/dˈætə pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
technical
movable digital data
the ability to move your digital information from one service to another
Examples
- The privacy law gives users a right to data portability.
- The company added an export tool to improve data portability.
- Without data portability, customers can feel locked into one platform.
health insurance portability
1/hˈɛlθ ɪnʃˈʊɹəns pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
legal
movable health coverage
the ability to keep health insurance when your job or situation changes
Examples
- Health insurance portability was a major concern for workers with chronic conditions.
- The legislation included rules on health insurance portability.
- Many employees ask about health insurance portability before leaving a company.
number portability
1/nˈʌmbɚ pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
technical
keeping a phone number
the ability to keep your phone number when you change phone companies
Examples
- Number portability made it easier to switch mobile carriers.
- Check whether number portability is available before you cancel your old plan.
- The regulator introduced number portability to increase competition.
pension portability
1/pˈɛnʃən pˌɔɹtəbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
business
transferable retirement benefits
the ability to keep or move pension savings when you change jobs or plans
Examples
- Better pension portability can encourage workers to change jobs without losing retirement savings.
- Expats should check pension portability before moving abroad.
- The reform aimed to simplify pension portability across different employers.