What does flexible mean?

Definitions for flexible
ˈflɛk sə bəlflex·i·ble

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word flexible.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. flexibleadjective

    capable of being changed

    "flexible schedules"

  2. flexible, flexileadjective

    able to flex; able to bend easily

    "slim flexible birches"

  3. elastic, flexible, pliable, pliantadjective

    able to adjust readily to different conditions

    "an adaptable person"; "a flexible personality"; "an elastic clause in a contract"

  4. flexible, whippyadjective

    bending and snapping back readily without breaking

  5. compromising, conciliatory, flexibleadjective

    making or willing to make concessions

    "loneliness tore through him...whenever he thought of...even the compromising Louis du Tillet"

Wiktionary

  1. flexiblenoun

    Something that is flexible

  2. flexibleadjective

    Capable of being flexed or bent without breaking; able to be turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking; pliable; not stiff or brittle.

    When the splitting wind Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks. -William Shakespeare

  3. flexibleadjective

    Willing or ready to yield to the influence of others; not invincibly rigid or obstinate; tractable; manageable; ductile; easy and compliant; wavering.

  4. flexibleadjective

    Capable or being adapted or molded; plastic,; as, a flexible language.

    This was a principle more flexible to their purpose. -Rogers.

  5. Etymology: From flexibilis, from flecto. Compare French flexible.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. FLEXIBLEadjective

    Etymology: flexibilis, Latin; flexible, French.

    When splitting winds
    Make flexible the knees of knotted oaks. William Shakespeare, Troil. and Cress.

    Take a stock-gillyflower and tie it upon a stick, and put them both into a stoop glass full of quicksilver, so that the flower be covered: after four or five days you shall find the flower fresh, and the stalk harder and less flexible than it was. Francis Bacon, Natural History, №. 796.

    Phocyon was a man of great severity, and no ways flexible to the will of the people. Francis Bacon.

    Under whose care soever a child is put to be taught, during the tender and flexible years of his life, it should be one who thinks Latin and language the least part of education. John Locke.

    This was a principle more flexible to their purpose. John Rogers.

ChatGPT

  1. flexible

    Flexible refers to the ability or quality of easily adapting or adjusting to different conditions, changes, or situations without being negatively affected. It can also refer to something that is easily bent or manipulated without breaking. This term can be applied to various contexts, including physical materials, schedules, plans, or personal attributes such as thinking or behavior.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Flexibleadjective

    capable of being flexed or bent; admitting of being turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking; pliable; yielding to pressure; not stiff or brittle

  2. Flexibleadjective

    willing or ready to yield to the influence of others; not invincibly rigid or obstinate; tractable; manageable; ductile; easy and compliant; wavering

  3. Flexibleadjective

    capable or being adapted or molded; plastic,; as, a flexible language

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Flexible

    fleks′i-bl, Flexile, fleks′il, adj. easily bent: pliant: docile.—v.t. Flex, to bend or make a flexure of.—adjs. Flexan′imous, influencing the mind; Flexed, bent.—ns. Flex′ibleness, Flexibil′ity, pliancy: easiness to be persuaded.—adv. Flex′ibly.—ns. Flex′ion, Flec′tion, a bend: a fold: the action of a flexor muscle; Flex′or, a muscle which bends a joint, as opposed to Extensor.—adjs. Flex′ūous, Flex′ūose, of windings and turnings: variable.—n. Flex′ūre, a bend or turning: (math.) the curving of a line or surface: the bending of loaded beams: (Shak.) obsequious bowing. [L. flexibilis, flexilisflectĕre, flexum, to bend.]

Editors Contribution

  1. flexible

    Able to change or adjust where just and fair.

    Flexible working hours is always wise.


    Submitted by MaryC on March 7, 2020  

Entomology

  1. Flexible

    pliable; with elastic properties.

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'flexible' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3930

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'flexible' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4660

  3. Adjectives Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'flexible' in Adjectives Frequency: #526

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce flexible?

How to say flexible in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of flexible in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of flexible in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of flexible in a Sentence

  1. Cassandra Crifasi:

    It’s a little bit more of a flexible policy in that it might allow a gun owner to store a gun in a way that sort of best meets their needs, as long as you don’t knowingly think a child could access that gun, then you’re not necessarily violating the law.

  2. Bob Wellington Juanita:

    Be flexible and have fun, laugh a lot.

  3. Francesca Rosella:

    Inside the shirt - that by the way is completely textiles, there are no wires inside, so we're only using smart fabrics - we have a combination of microelectronics ... very thin and flexible, and conductive fabrics, all these little electronic motors are connected with these conductive fabrics so that the garment is soft and stretchable.

  4. Daniel Roeska:

    Ryanair has a large number of small bases, which makes their network very flexible, they can react very quickly to changes in the market, especially when small carriers get into trouble.

  5. Iain Duncan Smith:

    I am always flexible on the date, providing the intent and commitment to eradicate the involvement of high risk vendors from our system, across the board, full stop.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

flexible#1#3722#10000

Translations for flexible

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"flexible." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LTD, 2026. Web. 24 Jul 2026. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/flexible>.

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