Standard Lemma guide

-ability

suffix · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /-əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/
  • UK: /-əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
  • Australian, Canada, US: /-əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
  • Australian, Canada, US: [-əˈbɪl.ə.ɾi]

1

suffix

Meaning 1

Forms a noun from a verb or an adjective by changing from -able; ability, inclination or suitability for a specified function or condition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme, uncountable, usually

Examples

  • cook + -ability → cookability

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dhlom Proto-Indo-European *-dhlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Proto-Indo-European *-teh2 Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh2ts Proto-Italic *-tāts Latin -tās Latin -abilitas Middle French -abletébor. Middle English -ablete English -ability From Middle English -ablete, -iblete, -abilite, -ibilite, from Middle French -ableté, -ibleté, -abilité, -ibilité, from Latin -abilitas, -ibilitas, from -abilis (“able”) or -ibilis (“able”) + -tas. Equivalent to -able + -ity. See ability.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: -abilité — forms a noun from a verb
  • German: -barkeit — forms a noun from a verb
  • Hungarian: -hatóság — forms a noun from a verb
  • Hungarian: -hetőség — forms a noun from a verb
  • Hungarian: képesség — forms a noun from a verb
  • Indonesian: -itas — forms a noun from a verb
  • Indonesian: -abilitas — forms a noun from a verb
  • Malay: keboleh--an — forms a noun from a verb
  • Malay: keter--an — forms a noun from a verb
  • Polish: -ość — forms a noun from a verb
  • Portuguese: -abilidade — forms a noun from a verb
  • Romanian: -abilitate — forms a noun from a verb
  • Romanian: -ibilitate — forms a noun from a verb
  • Swedish: -barhet — forms a noun from a verb
  • Turkish: -bilirlik — forms a noun from a verb
  • Turkish: -abilite — forms a noun from a verb