Repairability

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The attribute of an object that indicates its potential to be restored to working condition after a malfunction or damage occurs
2. The extent to which something can be repaired or fixed, thereby determining its longevity and usability
3. The quality of an item that allows it to be restored to functioning order following damage or breakdown

Etymology: Repairability is a plain formation: the noun "repair" with the suffix "-ability," which turns an adjective ending in "-able" into a noun meaning the quality of being that thing. "Repair" came into English from Old French "reparer," itself from Latin "reparare," meaning to prepare again or restore. The suffix "-ability" comes from Latin "-abilitas," carried into English through French, and it attaches to verbs to name the capacity a thing has to be acted on in that way. So a repairable object has repairability, and the word names how far that capacity extends. The word's usefulness lies in how it moves a question from "can this be fixed?" to "how easily, and how often, can it be fixed?" Because the suffix measures degree, the term fits debates about products that are hard to open, parts that are glued in place, or devices that need specialist tools. It describes a property that a designer can build in or leave out, rather than a simple yes or no.