Agility
n.capable, energeticeveryday
Meaning 1
The ability to move quickly, lightly, and under control.
Reach for it when praising responsive physical movement rather than raw speed
The goalkeeper's agility let her reach the deflected ball.
Choose between these
4- everyday
light, precise movement matters more than power
not when Nimbleness can sound dainty for a forceful athletic performance.
- professional
coordination
body parts work together accurately
not when Coordination can be excellent at a slow pace.
- professional
fine control of the hands or body is central
not when Dexterity is too local when the whole body changes direction.
- literary
fleetness
swift graceful travel is being described
not when Fleetness prizes speed more than control.
Meaning 2
The capacity to understand change and respond effectively without delay.
Reach for it when describing mental or organizational quickness under new conditions
The small lab used its agility to revise the trial within a week.
Choose between these
4- everyday
a person finds an answer rapidly under pressure
not when Quick thinking may produce one solution without broader flexibility.
- warm
effective adjustment matters even if it takes time
not when Adaptability lacks the quick response implied by agility.
- professional
prompt reaction to signals or needs is central
not when Responsiveness can be obedient rather than strategically agile.
- literary
mental suppleness
thought changes direction without becoming rigid
not when This phrase is too figurative for an operational metric.
Said against
4- clumsiness
- stiffness
- slowness
- rigidity
It naturally appears in
3- physical agility
Climbing the rig safely requires physical agility.
- mental agility
Mental agility helped Nura connect the two witness accounts.
- agility training
The coach added agility training before the tournament.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun sense: nimbleness in movement opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- wiktionary, English noun sense: quickness and readiness of thought opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.