mobility
muh-BIH-lih-tee
Mobility (noun) means the ability to move around freely or easily. Example: “Arthritis limited his mobility, so he used a walking stick.”
noun
1
The ability to move around freely or easily.
"Arthritis limited his mobility, so he used a walking stick."
"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.
"Better schools can improve social mobility for children from poorer families."
"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 notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mobility.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- mobilities
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Arthritis limited his _____, so he used a walking stick.
Etymology
From Middle French mobilité, ultimately from Latin mobilitas ("ease of movement"), the same root that gives us "mobile."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include mobility:
