controllability

controllability — noun

1. how easily a machine, vehicle, situation, or feeling can be managed and made to

1.nounC1
Definition

how easily a machine, vehicle, situation, or feeling can be managed and made to behave the way you want.

Example

Engineers tested the new drone's controllability in strong winds before the launch.

the controllability of [a machine] in difficult conditions

Beatrix doubted the controllability of her emotions during the long, painful trial.

controllability of [a feeling/situation]

Common collocations
  • test the controllability
  • improve controllability
  • lose controllability
Synonyms
  • manageability

    broader; how easy something is to handle overall, not only to steer or command

  • maneuverability

    narrower; specifically how easily a vehicle changes direction

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the controllability of [something]

Usage Note

Uncountable and used mainly in technical or formal writing, often about vehicles, machines, or processes. Frequently appears as 'the controllability of [something]'.

Common Mistakes

The car has good controllabilities.
The car has good controllability.
it is uncountable, so it takes no plural -s.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These three nouns all describe how easy something is to keep in hand, but they differ in scope. 'Controllability' is the most technical and is used when you want to say how well a machine, vehicle, or system responds to commands — engineers test the controllability of a drone or a reactor. 'Manageability' is broader and more everyday; it covers any task, workload, or problem that can be handled without too much trouble, as in the manageability of a heavy schedule. 'Maneuverability' is the narrowest and applies mainly to vehicles, naming how easily they turn or change direction in tight spaces. So a sports car has good maneuverability in city traffic, strong controllability on a wet track, and an owner praises the manageability of its running costs.

controllability ↗manageability ↗maneuverability

Common collocations

Phrases

  • improve controllability
  • test the controllability
  • lose controllability

Prepositions

  • controllability of
  • controllability in

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Built from the verb 'control' plus the ending '-able' (able to be done) and the noun ending '-ity' (the state of being something). 'Control' came into English from Old French 'contreroller', meaning to check accounts against a copy, which itself goes back to Latin 'contra' (against) and 'rotulus' (a roll or list). The abstract noun 'controllability' is a modern formation naming the quality of being able to be controlled.