mobility
moh-BIL-ih-tee
/məʊˈbɪləti/
the ability to move or be moved freely and easily.
In fitness, mobility is different from flexibility. Flexibility is how far a muscle can stretch; mobility is how well a joint can move through its range of motion.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'mobilis', which is a contraction of 'movibilis', meaning 'movable'. It shares the same root as 'movie' and 'motive'.
Word relationships
- agility: Agility is the ability to move quickly and easily; mobility is just the ability to move freely.
- flexibility: The quality of bending easily without breaking; mobility includes the control of that movement.
- immobility: The state of not moving.
- rigidity: Inability to be to bent or be forced out of shape.
Commonly confused with
- motility: Motility is a biological term for the ability of an organism or fluid (like sperm or gut contents) to move spontaneously.
Word family
- mobile (adjective): Able to move.
- mobilize (verb): To make something move or ready for action.
Collocations
- joint mobility
- social mobility
- upward mobility
Example sentences
- "Regular stretching and yoga can help maintain joint mobility as we age." Describing an elderly person's health.
- "The army's high mobility allowed it to respond quickly to threats across the border." A military context.
Memory hook
Mobility: Think of a 'mobile' phone—you can move around while using it. Freedom to move.
When not to use
Don't use it to mean 'speed'; it's about the 'freedom' of movement, not the velocity.
Fun facts
- The term 'social mobility' was coined to describe how people move between different social classes, using the physical metaphor for life status.
Related words
Explore more words
agility, Connectivity, migrate, flexibility, transit, migration
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