capability
noun
ca·pa·bil·i·ty ˌkā-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
plural capabilities
1
: the quality or state of being capable
also : ability
The mayor has demonstrated his capability to handle municipal problems.
2
: a feature or faculty capable of development : potentiality
This vacant urban district has great capabilities.
3
: the facility or potential for an indicated use or deployment
the capability of a metal to be fused
nuclear capability
Synonyms
- credentials
- goods
- qualification
- stuff
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The device has the capability of recording two television channels at once. the nature of the tasks to which you are assigned will depend on your capabilities
Recent Examples on the Web The hat also has a capability that very few have ever seen. 
Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Sep. 2022 China has huge capability in this area and could be building reservoirs to hold more rainwater on farms, or planting vegetation that is good at retaining moisture. WIRED, 3 Sep. 2022 The 22-year-old is thought to have defensive switching capability. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 For the first time, China launched missiles over Taiwan to target areas in the waters east of the island – demonstrating a capability that could complicate Taiwan’s defenses, experts say. Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug. 2022 Scientists have never observed gorillas snoughing in the wild, which suggests apes kept in captivity can learn to make new sounds, a rare capability among animals. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Aug. 2022 Monitor the entire footprint of your organization and include, where possible, a multi-space monitoring capability. Spiros Liolis, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 At its June summit in Madrid, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed to adopt a plan for defending the Baltic states—firming up what had been more of a tripwire than a serious combat capability. John R. Deni And Michael O’hanlon, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 More hawkish politicians have pushed for Japan to develop a first-strike capability with conventionally armed missiles, and even suggested that the country could one day host American nuclear weapons as a deterrent. New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 See More
Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Sep. 2022 China has huge capability in this area and could be building reservoirs to hold more rainwater on farms, or planting vegetation that is good at retaining moisture. WIRED, 3 Sep. 2022 The 22-year-old is thought to have defensive switching capability. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 For the first time, China launched missiles over Taiwan to target areas in the waters east of the island – demonstrating a capability that could complicate Taiwan’s defenses, experts say. Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug. 2022 Scientists have never observed gorillas snoughing in the wild, which suggests apes kept in captivity can learn to make new sounds, a rare capability among animals. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Aug. 2022 Monitor the entire footprint of your organization and include, where possible, a multi-space monitoring capability. Spiros Liolis, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 At its June summit in Madrid, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed to adopt a plan for defending the Baltic states—firming up what had been more of a tripwire than a serious combat capability. John R. Deni And Michael O’hanlon, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 More hawkish politicians have pushed for Japan to develop a first-strike capability with conventionally armed missiles, and even suggested that the country could one day host American nuclear weapons as a deterrent. New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see capable
First Known Use
1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing capability
Kids Definition
capability
noun
ca·pa·bil·i·ty ˌkā-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē
plural capabilities
: ability sense 1
That job is beyond my capability.
capability
noun
1
as in ability
a skill, an ability, or knowledge that makes a person able to do a particular job the nature of the tasks to which you are assigned will depend on your capabilities Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ability
- qualification
- expertise
- talent
- stuff
- capacity
- credentials
- aptitude
- goods
- facility
- competence
- competency
- proficiency
- knack
- potentiality
- gift
- mastery
- flair
- suitability
- know-how
- mastership
- command
- fitness
- endowment
- faculty
- speciality
- specialty
- strong suit
- forte
- specialism
- genius
- metier
- long suit
- makings
- suitableness
- métier
2
as in capacity
the physical or mental power to do something the natural capability some people seem to have for teaching Synonyms & Similar Words
- ability
- capacity
- aptitude
- talent
- competence
- skill
- competency
- capableness
- faculty
- equipment
- facility
- prowess
- reason
- instinct
- gift
- knack
- intelligence
- understanding
- resources
- usefulness
- dexterity
- endowment
- address
- resourcefulness
- might
- potency
- influence
- effectiveness
- aptness
- adequacy
- means
- gray matter
- fitness
- adroitness
- deftness
- wherewithal
- stuff
- ken
- hand
- effectualness
- staying power
- puissance
- form
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inability
- incapability
- incapacity
- disability
- incompetence
- incompetency
- ineptitude
- ineptness
- deficiency
- weakness
- impotence
- paralysis
- helplessness
- powerlessness
- inadequacy
- impairment
- incapableness
- ineffectiveness
- defectiveness
- uselessness
- inefficacy
- incapacitation
- ineffectuality
- disablement
- inadequateness
- debilitation
- ineffectualness
- inefficaciousness
3
as in possibility
something that can develop or become actual there are great capabilities in the property, either as a bed-and-breakfast or as a private home Synonyms & Similar Words
- possibility
- potential
- potentiality
- prospect
- likelihood
- potency
- probability
- eventuality
- latency
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reality
- certainty
- actuality