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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

mobility

muh-BIH-lih-tee

Mobility (noun) means the ability to move around freely or easily. Example: “The physical therapy program helped restore mobility to her injured knee.”

noun
1
The ability to move around freely or easily.
"The physical therapy program helped restore mobility to her injured knee."
"A wheelchair gave him greater mobility around the office."
2
The ability of people to move between social or economic levels.
"Education is often seen as the key driver of social mobility."
"Economic mobility has stagnated for many working-class families."

How to use mobility

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHow easily something (or someone) can move — physically, or up and down the social ladder.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
social mobility limited mobility upward mobility restore mobility

Word forms

mobilities plural

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Test yourself on “mobility” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The physical therapy program helped restore _____ to her injured knee.

Etymology

From Middle French mobilité, ultimately from Latin mobilitas ("ease of movement"), the same root that gives us "mobile."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for mobility

See all rhymes for mobility →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mobility” mean?

The word “mobility” means the ability to move around freely or easily. In plain terms, how easily something (or someone) can move — physically, or up and down the social ladder.

How do you pronounce “mobility”?

“Mobility” is pronounced muh-BIH-lih-tee (/moʊˈbɪlɪti/ in IPA).

How do you use “mobility” in a sentence?

Here is “mobility” used in a sentence: “The physical therapy program helped restore mobility to her injured knee.”

What is the opposite of “mobility”?

The opposite of “mobility” — its antonyms — is immobility.

What part of speech is “mobility”?

“Mobility” is a noun.

Where does the word “mobility” come from?

The word “mobility” comes from Latin. From Middle French mobilité, ultimately from Latin mobilitas ("ease of movement"), the same root that gives us "mobile.".

Is “mobility” a common word?

“Mobility” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “mobility” have?

“Mobility” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ability to move around freely or easily.

What is the difference between mobility and movement?

Movement is the act of moving itself, while mobility is the ability to move around freely or easily. A person can have good mobility even while sitting still, because the word describes capacity rather than action.

What is the opposite of mobility?

The direct opposite of mobility is immobility, the inability to move or be moved. In the social sense, the opposite idea is a lack of social mobility, where people stay fixed at one economic level.

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