portability

P3O1R1T1A1B3I1L1I1T1Y4

noun

The ability of a program (or software system) to execute properly on multiple hardware platforms.

Less commonScrabble 18
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Meanings

nounportability (usually uncountable, plural portabilities)

plural portabilities

  1. The quality of being portable.
    1. uncountableusuallycomputingThe ability of a program (or software system) to execute properly on multiple hardware platforms.
    2. uncountableusuallyThe ability of an employee to move between different social security schemes without losing their contributions.
    3. uncountableusuallyThe ability of a telephone subscriber to keep their number when switching to a different network.

      […] number portability is crucial for competition, because it enables consumers to change service providers without being forced to change their phone number. Number portability is a statutory requirement, and it imposes costs on all[…]

      1999, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Commerce. Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Reauthorization of the Federal Communications Commission: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixth Congress, First Session, March 17, 1999, page 117

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
carriability

Origin

From portable + -ity.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan portabilitat, portabilitat
  • portabilitatthe ability of a program to execute properly on multiple hardware platforms
  • portabilitatquality of being portable
Czech přenosnost
  • přenosnostquality of being portable
Finnish siirrettävyys
  • siirrettävyysquality of being portable
French portabilité, portabilité
  • portabilitéthe ability of a program to execute properly on multiple hardware platforms
  • portabilitéquality of being portable
German Rufnummernmitnahme, rufnummernmitnahme
  • Rufnummernmitnahmethe ability of a program to execute properly on multiple hardware platforms
  • rufnummernmitnahmethe ability of a telephone subscriber to keep their number when switching to a different network
Greek μεταφερσιμότητα, φορητότητα
  • μεταφερσιμότητα (metafersimótita)the ability of a program to execute properly on multiple hardware platforms
  • φορητότητα (foritótita)quality of being portable
Italian portabilità
  • portabilitàquality of being portable
Portuguese portabilidade
  • portabilidadethe ability of a program to execute properly on multiple hardware platforms
Romanian portabilitate, portabilitate
  • portabilitatethe ability of a program to execute properly on multiple hardware platforms
  • portabilitatequality of being portable
Spanish portabilidad, portabilidad
  • portabilidadthe ability of a program to execute properly on multiple hardware platforms
  • portabilidadquality of being portable
Cite this entry
APA

portability. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portability

MLA

“portability.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portability. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “portability,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portability.

Source: portability on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.