reliability

noun

re·​li·​abil·​i·​ty ri-ˌlī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce reliability (audio)
Synonyms of reliabilitynext
1
: the quality or state of being reliable
2
: the extent to which an experiment, test, or measuring procedure yields the same results on repeated trials

Synonyms of reliability

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Examples of reliability in a Sentence

we never had reason to question the reliability of the park rangers in the event of an emergency
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Behind-the-scenes engineering modifications over the last year have boosted not only the attraction’s reliability, but allowed its capacity to increase by about 125 people per hour. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Anthropic acknowledged in April that rapid growth had strained its infrastructure and impacted reliability and performance. — Wen Shao, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 The problem described extends beyond the domain of lending, as systems that transition from advisory functions to performing actual transactions require such reliability as a design requirement. — Ethan Stone, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 The project will also let the military assess practical performance, including payload, range, fuel efficiency, reliability, and utilization. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reliability

Word History

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reliability was in 1810

Rhymes for reliability

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Browse Nearby Words

relevé
reliability
reliability coefficient
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Cite this Entry

“Reliability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reliability. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

reliability

noun
re·​li·​abil·​i·​ty ri-ˌlī-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce reliability (audio)
plural reliabilities
: the quality or state of being reliable

Medical Definition

reliability

noun
re·​li·​abil·​i·​ty ri-ˌlī-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce reliability (audio)
plural reliabilities
: the extent to which an experiment, test, or measuring procedure yields the same results on repeated trials
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