reversibility: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “reversibility” mean?
The property or state of being able to be returned to an original condition or state, or of a process being able to be undone.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The property or state of being able to be returned to an original condition or state, or of a process being able to be undone.
The concept that a sequence of operations or a transformation can be carried out backwards, restoring the initial state; in fields like computing, physics, or logic, it implies no loss of information or energy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Both varieties use the term identically.
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low in general usage but standard in technical registers in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “reversibility” in a Sentence
the reversibility of [a process/system]reversibility in [a field/context][adjective] reversibilityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reversibility” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The engineer needed to reverse the chemical reaction to test its properties.
- Can we reverse the software update if it causes problems?
American English
- The developer had to reverse the code changes after the bug was found.
- They decided to reverse the decision based on new data.
adverb
British English
- The reaction proceeded reversibly under laboratory conditions.
- The data can be transformed reversibly without loss.
American English
- The algorithm works reversibly, preserving all input information.
- The change was made reversibly to allow for future adjustments.
adjective
British English
- The process is theoretically reversible, but practically very difficult.
- She wore a reversible jacket with a waterproof side.
American English
- This is a reversible lane, changing direction during rush hour.
- The damage to the ecosystem may not be reversible.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions of contractual clauses or reversible decisions.
Academic
Common in scientific papers, especially physics, chemistry, computer science, and mathematics, to describe processes or transformations.
Everyday
Very rare. Would be replaced by phrases like 'can be undone' or 'can be reversed'.
Technical
Core term in thermodynamics, quantum computing, and software engineering, denoting a process that doesn't lose information.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reversibility”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reversibility”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reversibility”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a reversibility'). It is uncountable. Confusing it with 'reversal' (the act of reversing).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a technical term most commonly used in scientific, computing, and academic contexts. In everyday speech, people use phrases like 'can be undone' or 'can be reversed'.
No, it is an uncountable (mass) noun. You refer to 'a degree of reversibility' or 'the reversibility of a process', not 'a reversibility'.
The direct and most common antonym is 'irreversibility', meaning the state of not being able to be reversed or undone.
In computing, it often refers to algorithms or operations that do not lose information (reversible computing). In physics, especially thermodynamics, it describes an idealized process that can be reversed without increasing entropy or leaving any net change in the system.
The property or state of being able to be returned to an original condition or state, or of a process being able to be undone.
Reversibility is usually formal / technical in register.
Reversibility: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˌvɜːsəˈbɪləti/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˌvɜːrsəˈbɪləti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms; the word is highly technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of REVERSE + IBILITY (the ability to reverse). It's the 'ability' for something to go in 'reverse' back to the start.
Conceptual Metaphor
A JOURNEY BACKWARDS (a process is a path, and reversibility is the ability to retrace your steps exactly).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'reversibility' most precisely and frequently defined?