The practical power, skill, or capacity to achieve a particular result.
Reach for it when identifying what a person, team, or system is genuinely equipped to do
The clinic gained the capability to process urgent tests overnight.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
ability
Fits when a person's power to perform is the simple point
Careful Ability can be natural or undeveloped, while capability often includes usable means.
everyday
Fits when practical knowledge should sound informal and usable
Careful Know-how omits equipment, permission, and scale that may enable the result.
warm
Fits when future growth is more important than current readiness
Careful Potential is not proof that the capability exists today.
professional
capacity
Fits when available volume, scope, or potential is being assessed
Careful Capacity may measure how much can be handled rather than how well.
professional
competence
Fits when adequate skill and judgment have been demonstrated
Careful Competence belongs mainly to people, not a machine's technical function.
formal
Fits when practiced skill in a defined activity deserves notice
Careful Proficiency is narrower than the resources and authority included in capability.
literary
wherewithal
Fits when having all necessary means is the emphasis
Careful The playful old-fashioned tone can distract in a technical assessment.
technical capability
The audit confirmed the lab's technical capability for the new assay.
build capability
The grant will build capability among rural emergency teams.
proven capability
Her proven capability made her a natural choice to lead the repair.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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