Meaning & use
gradeability
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountabletechnical
The maximum slope or incline that a vehicle or machine can climb while operating effectively.
Grammar: Uncountable; used with 'the' or without an article: 'The gradeability of this truck is impressive.'
Patterns
- gradeability of something
- high/low gradeability
- gradeability test
The off-road vehicle's gradeability allows it to handle steep mountain trails.
Engineers tested the gradeability of the new bulldozer on a 30-degree slope.
Poor gradeability can limit a truck's usefulness in hilly regions.
Common combinations
- high gradeability
- The military truck is known for its high gradeability on rough terrain.
- gradeability test
- The prototype underwent a rigorous gradeability test before production.
- maximum gradeability
- The manual lists the maximum gradeability for the vehicle under full load.
- improve gradeability
- Adding a locking differential can improve the gradeability of an SUV.
Synonyms and how they differ
- climbing ability
- A more general term that can refer to any vehicle or person, not just a technical measure of slope.
- hill-climbing capacity
- Similar but often used in a broader context, not as a precise engineering specification.
Word family
- grade noun
- The steepness of a slope, often expressed as a percentage.
- gradable adjective
- Able to be graded or ranked; not related to slope.
Commonly confused: gradeability or gradability?
gradeability vs gradability
Gradability refers to how easily something can be graded or ranked, especially in linguistics for adjectives. Gradeability is about climbing slopes.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'gradeability' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Gradeability is a noun meaning the ability to climb slopes, so it fits in sentence B. Sentence An incorrectly uses it to describe the hill itself, not a vehicle's ability. Sentence C uses it as a verb, which is wrong. Sentence D confuses it with 'gradability' or general ability.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gradeability”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.