Applicability

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The condition of being fitting or appropriate within a particular context is essential for practical usage
2. The relevance or suitability of a concept in a specific scenario determines its effectiveness
3. The quality that shows how well something fits or applies to a particular situation or context

Etymology: "Applicability" is a plain formation: "applicable" with the suffix "-ity" attached. "Applicable" itself comes from the verb "apply," which passed into English from Old French "aplier" and ultimately from Latin "applicare," meaning "to attach or fold toward." The adjective ending "-able" marks something that can be done or fits, so "applicable" describes what can be brought to bear on a situation. The suffix "-ity" turns that adjective into a noun for the quality of being so, giving "applicability" its sense of how well something fits a particular purpose.

Synonyms: relevance, pertinence

Antonyms: irrelevance, inapplicability