Availability

/əˌveɪləˈbɪləti/

nounIntermediateVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

1

The extent to which something can be obtained or used.

/əˌveɪləˈbɪləti/

nounneutralIntermediate
General

The state of being readily accessible or obtainable.

Check the availability of the hotel rooms before booking.

💡 Simply: How easy it is to get or use something.

More Examples

2

The doctor's availability is limited this week.

How It's Used

Business

"The availability of resources is crucial for project success."

Technology

"Software availability is monitored 24/7."

Idioms & expressions

at one's disposal

Available for use or service.

"He had all the resources at his disposal."

From Middle English *available*, from Old French *avalable*, from *aval* "at one's disposal," from *a val* "to the value, to the worth." The suffix -ity creates a noun from an adjective.

The word has consistently referred to the state of being available since its Old French origins, with the modern usage reflecting increased precision in specifying degrees of access.

Memory tip

Think 'avail' meaning to be of use, and '-ability' indicating a state or quality.

availablityavailibilityavaliability

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written