motility: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Technical (Medical/Biological)
Quick answer
What does “motility” mean?
The ability of an organism, cell, or fluid to move or be moved.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ability of an organism, cell, or fluid to move or be moved.
The inherent capacity for spontaneous movement, often used in biological/medical contexts to describe the movement of cells (e.g., sperm), microorganisms, or the muscular contractions of the digestive tract. Can also be metaphorically extended to describe the dynamic, changing nature of ideas or social structures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling is consistent. Usage is predominantly in the same technical/scientific registers in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral and scientific in both. No strong cultural connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both British and American English. Slightly more common in American medical literature due to the size of the publishing sector.
Grammar
How to Use “motility” in a Sentence
The motility of [NOUN PHRASE] was measured.[NOUN PHRASE] exhibits/showed/reduced motility.A disorder affecting intestinal motility.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “motility” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No common verb form. The related verb is 'motivate', which is semantically distinct.]
American English
- [No common verb form. The related verb is 'motivate', which is semantically distinct.]
adverb
British English
- [The adverb 'motilely' is theoretically possible but exceedingly rare and unnatural.]
American English
- [The adverb 'motilely' is theoretically possible but exceedingly rare and unnatural.]
adjective
British English
- The motile bacteria were observed under the microscope.
- Sperm samples are assessed for motile concentration.
American English
- Researchers studied the motile properties of the new synthetic cell.
- A high percentage of motile sperm is crucial for fertility.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in biology, medicine, and physiology papers (e.g., 'The study focused on ciliary motility in protozoa.').
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be misunderstood by most non-specialists.
Technical
The primary domain. Used in medical diagnostics (e.g., 'The patient has a gastrointestinal motility disorder.'), microbiology, and cell biology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “motility”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “motility”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “motility”
- Using 'motility' to describe a person's ability to walk (use 'mobility').
- Misspelling as 'motality' or 'mobility'.
- Using it in non-technical contexts where it sounds jarringly formal.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Motility' refers to the inherent, often spontaneous, ability of an organism or its parts to move internally (e.g., gut contractions, sperm swimming). 'Mobility' refers to the ability of a whole person or object to move or be moved from place to place (e.g., a mobile phone, an elderly person's mobility).
No, it is a specialized, technical term primarily used in medical, biological, and scientific contexts. It would sound out of place in casual conversation.
Rarely. Its core meaning is tied to biological function. Metaphorical use for ideas or social structures ('the motility of capital') is possible in advanced academic prose but very uncommon.
The adjective is 'motile' (/ˈməʊtaɪl/ in GB, /ˈmoʊtəl/ in US). It describes something capable of motion (e.g., motile bacteria, non-motile sperm).
The ability of an organism, cell, or fluid to move or be moved.
Motility is usually formal, academic, technical (medical/biological) in register.
Motility: in British English it is pronounced /məʊˈtɪlɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /moʊˈtɪlɪti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms use this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MOTOR' + 'ability' = MOTILITY. It's the internal motor-like ability to move.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS LIFE (e.g., high sperm motility indicates vitality).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'motility' MOST appropriately used?