noun
Common
reliability
Reliability (noun) means the quality of being consistently good, trustworthy, or dependable. Example: “Customers choose this train line because of its reliability, not its low fares.”
noun
1
The quality of being consistently good, trustworthy, or dependable.
"Customers choose this train line because of its reliability, not its low fares."
"Above all, rail needs to be boring. By that, I mean that it must run its timetable reliably, day-in and day-out. Punctuality and reliability remain the bedrock of a successful railway."
— Philip Haigh, Comment: Pay deal a positive result (2023)
"The car is known for its reliability, even after years of use."
"Investors value the reliability of the company's earnings reports."
How to use reliability
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow consistently something can be trusted to work or behave as expected.
Common pairings
high reliability
test for reliability
reliability of a source
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Word forms
- Plural
- reliabilities
Fill the gap
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Customers choose this train line because of its _____, not its low fares.
Etymology
From reliable plus the noun-forming suffix -ity.
Synonyms
View more →
dependability
trustworthiness
consistency
constancy
steadiness
soundness
reliableness
dependableness
Antonyms
unreliability
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.
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