reliability
Reliability (noun) means the quality of being consistently good, trustworthy, or dependable. Example: “The car is known for its reliability, even after years of use.”
How to Use Reliability
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow consistently something can be trusted to work or behave as expected.
Word Forms
reliabilities plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The car is known for its _____, even after years of use.
Etymology
From reliable plus the noun-forming suffix -ity.
Related Words
Rhymes for reliability
See all rhymes for reliability →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “reliability” mean?
The word “reliability” means the quality of being consistently good, trustworthy, or dependable. In plain terms, how consistently something can be trusted to work or behave as expected.
How do you use “reliability” in a sentence?
Here is “reliability” used in a sentence: “The car is known for its reliability, even after years of use.”
What part of speech is “reliability”?
“Reliability” is a noun.
Is “reliability” a common word?
“Reliability” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between reliability and validity?
Reliability is the quality of being consistent and dependable, giving the same results each time. Validity is a separate idea concerning whether something actually measures or does what it is meant to, so a test can be reliable without being valid.
What is the difference between reliability and durability?
Reliability is about consistent, trustworthy performance, functioning correctly time after time. Durability is about physically lasting and withstanding wear or damage, so a product can be durable yet unreliable, or reliable yet not very durable.
What is the difference between reliability and dependability?
The two are very close in meaning, both describing something you can consistently count on. Reliability often emphasises steady, repeatable performance, while dependability can carry a slightly more personal sense of being able to trust someone or something.
Is reliability a countable or uncountable noun?
Reliability is normally uncountable, so you speak of "reliability" in general rather than "a reliability" or "reliabilities." It describes the overall quality of being consistently trustworthy and dependable.