Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe ability to do a task, performance, or execution; a set of functions that something is able or equipped to perform.
nounIn trademark law, the tendency of a product design to serve a function other than the identification of the product, preventing that design from being protected as a trademark.
Sentence Examples
Many software companies offer free versions of their products, albeit with limited functionality.
It looks like Google deprecated that functionality.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The app's ____ includes the ability to edit photos and videos.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The latest update to the mobile app added several new features and improved its overall ____.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree
Old French fonction
Middle French functionbor.
English function
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.?
Proto-Italic *-ālis
Latin -ālisbor.
Old French -albor.
▲
Latin -ālis
Old French -elbor.
▲
Latin -ālisbor.
Middle English -al
English -al
English functional
Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-ts
Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts
Latin -itāsder.
Old French -itebor.
Middle English -ite
English -ity
English functionality
From functional + -ity.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Glu Mobile, who realigned its workforce towards centralized GaaS functions last year, announced earlier this month that it will shut down GameSpy Technology on May 31. The service provides multiplayer functionality for dozens of games on consoles, computers and mobile devices."
— 2014 May 1, Jenna Pitcher, “Glu Mobile acquires Diner Dash developer PlayFirst”, in Polygon, archived from the original on 27 Sep 2023:
"To appreciate the tasks and problems arising in the synthesis of the monomers it is of fundamental importance to understand that the process used must be capable of yielding organosilanes with different functionalities, since all functionalities are required for synthesis of silicones."
— 2012, Walter Noll, Chemistry and Technology of Silicones, page 25: