adaptability

USAGE SUMMARY

'adaptability' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe the ability to adjust to different conditions or to a changing environment. For example, "The company's success was in part due to its employees' remarkable adaptability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And it has proven enormously adaptable: look at the gap between General Motors and Monorail.Yet this very adaptability points to another truth: that the corporation will surely become ever less corporate.

The Economist

The Internet, by contrast, derives its adaptability precisely from its amorphous nature.

The Economist

Brazilian executives tend to put their adventurousness down to an adaptability learnt during the wild inflationary days.

The Economist

Mainstream Muslim clerics, citing competing verses and traditions that praise the freeing of slaves as a virtuous act, often describe Islam's abandonment of slavery as a sign of its adaptability to modern times.

The Economist

It is this adaptability (or "plasticity", in the jargon) that is the source of the claim, often associated with Ms Greenfield's pronouncements that using the internet can alter the physical structure of your brain.

The Economist

It is their courage and initiative and adaptability and common sense that have completed the historic reversal of the last four years.

The Economist

The best way to harness this adaptability is simply to let nature get on with it.Farmers' eagerness to jettison their wily old landraces is understandable.

The Economist

The old points system gave applicants credit for family members in Canada (under "adaptability"); the new one does not.

The Economist

Because U.S. labor cannot compete on price, we must reemphasize the things that have kept us on top of the economic food chain for so long: technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, adaptability and the like.

The Economist

Looking at the crop of companies that have soared to the top in the past decade or so, he singles out Dell Computer as possibly having sufficiently flexible and transferable supply-chain management to be tomorrow's 3M.Reinvention and adaptability are not the whole story, however.

The Economist

All these tricks meant that it could send back far more images.Redundancy, resiliency and adaptability, plus human ingenuity, keep distant hardware going.A further hack was necessary to help Voyager 2 point its camera.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a company's culture, emphasize "adaptability" as a key trait for navigating market shifts. This illustrates a proactive approach to change and innovation.

Common error

Avoid using "adaptability" as a standalone buzzword. Instead, specify what someone or something is adapting to. For example, instead of saying "They value adaptability", say "They value adaptability to new technologies".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "adaptability" is as a noun. It refers to the quality of being adaptable, as Ludwig AI explains. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, such as describing a company's strength or a person's characteristic.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "adaptability" is a noun denoting the quality of being adaptable. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It appears frequently in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science, reflecting its relevance across various domains. Emphasizing "adaptability" helps showcase a proactive response to change. Remember to specify what is being adapted to in your writing for greater clarity. Alternatives include "flexibility" and "versatility". As a concept, adaptability is essential in describing success in evolving environments and the quality of people that embrace change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adjustability

Focuses on the capacity to be adjusted or altered.

ability to adjust

Focuses on the active capability of changing to fit new conditions.

capacity to adapt

Highlights the inherent potential or ability to modify oneself.

flexibility

Emphasizes the quality of being easily modified or adaptable.

resourcefulness

Highlights the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.

versatility

Indicates the ability to adapt to many different activities or roles.

responsiveness

Highlights the ability to react quickly and positively to changes.

suppleness

Suggests a smooth and easy ability to adapt to different conditions.

elasticity

Refers to the ability to stretch and recover, similar to adapting to setbacks.

openness to change

Emphasizes a willingness and acceptance of new or different things.

FAQs

How is "adaptability" used in a sentence?

You can use "adaptability" to describe a person's or organization's ability to adjust to new conditions. For example, "The company's success relied on its team's "ability to adjust" to market changes".

What are synonyms for "adaptability"?

Alternatives to "adaptability" include "flexibility", "versatility", and "resourcefulness", depending on the specific context.

Is "adaptability" a skill or a trait?

"Adaptability" can be considered both a skill and a trait. As a skill, it can be developed and improved through practice. As a trait, it reflects a natural inclination to embrace change.

Why is "adaptability" important in the workplace?

"Adaptability" is crucial in the workplace because it allows individuals and teams to respond effectively to new challenges, technologies, and market conditions. Employees with "openness to change" are often more valuable and successful.