Meaning & use
maneuverability
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The ability of a vehicle, aircraft or other machine to turn and change direction easily, especially in tight spaces.
Grammar: Uncountable: the car's maneuverability. You do not say a maneuverability.
Patterns
- the maneuverability of something
- improve maneuverability
The small boat's maneuverability lets it turn sharply around the buoys.
Fighter pilots value maneuverability over raw speed.
City cars are designed for maneuverability in narrow streets.
noununcountablefigurative
The ability of a person, group or organization to change plans quickly and cleverly in a difficult situation.
Grammar: Used figuratively and uncountable: the company's maneuverability.
Patterns
- political maneuverability
- limited maneuverability
The small startup had greater maneuverability than its giant rivals.
The tight budget limited the mayor's maneuverability.
Common combinations
- excellent maneuverability
- The jet is known for its excellent maneuverability.
- improve maneuverability
- Narrower wheels improve maneuverability.
- limited maneuverability
- The huge truck has limited maneuverability on narrow roads.
- tight-space maneuverability
- The forklift offers superb tight-space maneuverability.
- political maneuverability
- The coalition reduced the prime minister's political maneuverability.
Synonyms and how they differ
- agility
- Agility describes quick, light movement and fits people and animals as well as vehicles, while maneuverability usually refers to machines.
- flexibility
- Flexibility means ability to adapt in general, not specifically to turn or steer.
- handling
- Handling describes how a car responds to steering overall, including comfort and grip, so it is broader than maneuverability.
- nimbleness
- Nimbleness stresses quick, light movement and is less technical than maneuverability.
Opposites
Word family
- maneuver verb
- to move something skillfully
- maneuver noun
- a skilled movement or clever action
- maneuverable adjective
- easy to steer and turn
- maneuvering noun
- the act of moving skillfully, or scheming
Commonly confused: maneuverability or manoeuvrability?
maneuverability vs manoeuvrability
This is the British spelling of the same word; use one spelling consistently.
Practice
Small sports cars are praised for their ____ on winding roads.
Choose one answer.
Maneuverability is the ability to turn and change direction easily. Durability and reliability describe other qualities and do not refer to steering.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “maneuverability”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.