Word
usability
Phoneticsus·abil·i·ty
UK/jˌuːzəbˈɪlɪti/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. how easy and pleasant a tool or website is to use. If something has good usability, you can understand how it works without getting frustrated.
n. the degree to which a product, system, or interface can be used by specified consumers to achieve quantified objectives with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction.
Examples
“The new app design focuses on better usability.”
“The development team conducted several rounds of testing to identify usability issues that were confusing new customers during the checkout process.”
“While the software offers a comprehensive suite of advanced features, its poor usability often discourages novice users from exploring beyond the most basic functions.”
Examples
simple
“The new app design focuses on better usability.”
contextual
“The development team conducted several rounds of testing to identify usability issues that were confusing new customers during the checkout process.”
complex
“While the software offers a comprehensive suite of advanced features, its poor usability often discourages novice users from exploring beyond the most basic functions.”
Usage
Often paired with 'testing' or 'design' to describe the process of making products more user-friendly.
Real-World Examples
“The coffee machines were tested across criteria such as taste and usability.” “Google won by combining technical rank, usability, and scale at exactly the moment the rest of the Internet was ready to abandon the old order.” Etymology
From usable + -ity or use + -ability.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/usability