reliability
HighFormal to neutral; used in academic, business, technical, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The quality of being trustworthy, dependable, or consistently good in performance.
In technical contexts, the statistical probability that a machine, system, or test will function without failure over a specified period or under specific conditions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a judgment based on a track record or proven performance. Often describes systems, data, people, or processes where consistency and trustworthiness are valued.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. Spelling is consistent. British English may slightly favour 'reliability' in engineering contexts; American English uses it heavily in computing and product marketing.
Connotations
Universally positive. Connotes trust, consistency, and freedom from faults.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English corpora, likely due to prevalent use in technology and business sectors.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
reliability of + NOUN (the reliability of the data)reliability for + NOUN/VERB-ING (reliability for long-term use)reliability + VERB (reliability suffers)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) solid as a rock (metaphorical for reliability)”
- “you can count on it”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Crucial for supplier evaluation and service level agreements, e.g., 'We prioritise supplier reliability over the lowest cost.'
Academic
Key in research methodology, referring to the consistency of measurements, e.g., 'The study assessed the inter-rater reliability of the coding scheme.'
Everyday
Used to describe people, cars, or services, e.g., 'His reliability makes him a great friend.'
Technical
A quantifiable metric in engineering and computing, e.g., 'The system's reliability is rated at 99.99% uptime.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to reliability-test the new components under extreme conditions.
American English
- The team will reliability-check the software before the launch.
adverb
British English
- The system has been performing reliably for over a decade.
American English
- The data was reliably collected using automated sensors.
adjective
British English
- The car is known for its reliable performance in all weathers.
American English
- We only source parts from reliable vendors with proven track records.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My old car has good reliability.
- A good friend shows reliability.
- The reliability of the weather forecast is important for our picnic.
- We chose this brand for its reputation for reliability.
- Journalists must assess the reliability of their sources before publishing.
- The study's findings are questioned due to concerns about data reliability.
- The engineer's report quantified the structural reliability of the bridge under stress loads.
- Statistical reliability was ensured through a rigorous peer-review process of the methodology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a reliable LIE detector test. It's a test you can trust. Re-LIE-ability -> The ability to not lie/be truthful and consistent.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIABILITY IS SOLIDITY / FOUNDATION (a reliable person is a 'rock'; a reliable system has a 'solid foundation').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'надёжность' in all contexts; in technical statistical contexts, 'reliability' is специфический термин (надёжность теста).
- Do not confuse with 'responsibility' (ответственность). A reliable person is dependable, not necessarily in charge.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He has a good reliability.' (Correct: 'He has good reliability' or 'He is reliable.')
- Incorrect preposition: 'reliability on' (usually 'reliability of' or 'for').
Practice
Quiz
In a research context, 'reliability' most closely refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In research, reliability is about consistency (getting the same results repeatedly), while validity is about accuracy (measuring what you intend to measure).
Yes, absolutely. Describing someone as having 'great reliability' means they are consistently dependable and trustworthy.
The most direct opposite is 'unreliable'. Other antonyms include 'inconsistent' or 'undependable'.
Generally, it is an uncountable (mass) noun. You don't say 'a reliability' or 'two reliabilities'. You discuss 'the reliability' or 'a high level of reliability'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Science and Research
B2 · 43 words · Academic and scientific research methodology.
Academic Vocabulary
C1 · 36 words · Formal academic language used in scholarly writing.
Critical Thinking
C1 · 49 words · Vocabulary for structured logical reasoning and analysis.
Scientific Terminology
C1 · 44 words · Precise vocabulary used in scientific disciplines.
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