reliability

/rɪˈlaɪəbɪli/
nounIntermediate consistent dependability
general

The quality of being consistently dependable or trustworthy over time

Engineers prioritize reliability in critical systems.

Engineers ensure that important systems work consistently without failure.

💡

Often used in technical, engineering, and business contexts to describe performance consistency.

Collocations

high reliabilityvery dependable performancetest reliabilityconsistency of test resultssystem reliabilityconsistent operation of a system

Related Phrases

reliability engineeringphrase
the discipline of ensuring system performance

💡Pro Tip

Technical vs. General Use

In technical contexts, reliability often refers to statistical measures of failure rates, while in general use, it describes trustworthiness.

Gold Rule

Precision in Context

Use 'reliability' for consistent performance and 'dependability' for trustworthiness in relationships.

📖Word Origin

From Middle French 'reliable' (14th century), from Old French 'reliable' (13th century), from Latin 'reliabilis' (able to be relied upon), from 'reliere' (to rely).

📝Usage Notes

Commonly used in technical fields to describe the performance of systems, products, or processes. In everyday language, it refers to someone or something that can be consistently trusted.

Word Breakdown

re-
again
prefix
+
-liable
able to be
suffix
+
-ity
quality of
suffix
English Dictionary