usability

noun

us·​abil·​i·​ty ˌyü-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

: 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

Technical issues such as connectivity, platform usability, and digital literacy can further impact the student experience, especially for those in rural or underserved communities. —Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Windows 11 Pro offers a sleek, easy-to-navigate interface that's not just pleasing to the eyes but also enhances usability. —New Atlas, 30 Apr. 2025

Hyperlite Mountain Gear View 11 Images View gallery - 11 images Hyperlite Mountain Gear joins fellow ultralight backpacking gear makers like Durston and Six Moons Design in adding a little bit of extra usability and comfort to its lineup of low weight shelters. —New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2025

The bottom line is that AI success is dependent on performance, internal trust, usability and long-term alignment. —Priya Vijayarajendran, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for usability

• affability
• audibility
• bistability
• capability
• changeability
• contractility
• credibility
• culpability
• disability
• disutility
• durability
• fallibility