usability

noun

us·​abil·​i·​ty ˌyü-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce usability (audio)
: the quality or state of being usable : ease of use
When netbooks arrived a couple of years ago, they were so tiny, only spider monkeys would find them usable. But as they've inched up in size and usability, their sales have taken off.David Pogue
One of the other great problems of computer software is preoccupation with bells and whistles, rather than usability. Even software that began as easily usable can evolve over time into something so burdened with complicated (and trivial) features that it is a challenge to figure out how to do the simplest thing.Thomas Sowell

Examples of usability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Their seamless integration with Apple devices enhances usability, while the $169 price tag (down from $249) offers significant savings. Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 8 Oct. 2024 Pro offers a sleek, easy-to-navigate interface that's not just pleasing to the eyes but also enhances usability. New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2024 Ease of assembly: Including time taken, usability of instructions, overall complexity, tools and number of people required. Samson McDougall, Health, 22 Oct. 2024 Perhaps their best feature is usability, with everything from their touch controls to their app working flawlessly. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for usability 

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of usability was in 1842

Dictionary Entries Near usability

Cite this Entry

“Usability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usability. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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