capability
kay-puh-BIHL-ih-tee
Capability (noun) means the power, skill, or resources needed to do something. Example: “The company lacks the capability to make so many parts in a single month.”
noun
1
The power, skill, or resources needed to do something.
"The company lacks the capability to make so many parts in a single month."
"The new engine gives the aircraft greater range capability."
"Her leadership capability was obvious from her first week on the job."
How to use capability
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat someone or something is able to do.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
technical capability
build capability
have the capability to
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Word forms
- Plural
- capabilities
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The company lacks the _____ to make so many parts in a single month.
Etymology
Built in English from "capable" plus the suffix "-ity," which turns adjectives into nouns.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
incapability
Related words
Rhymes for capability
See all rhymes for capability →Frequently asked questions
What does “capability” mean?
The word “capability” means the power, skill, or resources needed to do something. In plain terms, what someone or something is able to do.
How do you pronounce “capability”?
“Capability” is pronounced kay-puh-BIHL-ih-tee (/ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪl.ə.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “capability” in a sentence?
Here is “capability” used in a sentence: “The new engine gives the aircraft greater range capability.”
What part of speech is “capability”?
“Capability” is a noun.
Is “capability” a common word?
“Capability” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between capability and ability?
Ability usually refers to a skill or power a person actually has, while capability stresses the capacity, resources, or potential to do something when required. Capability is also the natural choice for organisations, systems, and machines — "the network's capability" — whereas ability tends to be used of people. In many sentences the two are interchangeable.
What is the difference between capability and capacity?
Capacity often describes the maximum amount something can hold, produce, or handle, as in the capacity of a stadium or a battery. Capability describes the power, skill, or resources needed to actually do something. Broadly, capacity is about limits and volume, while capability is about what can be done.
Is it "capability of doing" or "capability to do"?
Both patterns appear in edited writing: "the capability of processing data" and "the capability to process data" are each acceptable, with the "to do" pattern now the more common. Note the contrast with the adjective: you are "capable of doing" something, never "capable to do" it.
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