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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Simplified Usability Another benefit of passkeys is their usability. Mark Vena, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 Even stranger, says Pennell, was the decision to not roll the app back immediately once the usability issues were highlighted by the community. Verity Burns, WIRED, 1 Dec. 2024 Like almost half the apps in the latest report, Norton dropped a whole point in the usability category due to false positives, for a total score of 17 points. PCMAG, 27 Nov. 2024 Sleeping bags and pads have also been reimagined to provide comfort and usability across a broader range of body types, ensuring that no one feels left out of outdoor adventures simply because the gear wasn’t made with them in mind. Essence, 25 Nov. 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 Dec. 2024.

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