destructibility
|de-struc-ti-bil-i-ty|
🇺🇸
/ˌdɪstrʌktəˈbɪlɪti/
🇬🇧
/ˌdɛstrʌktɪˈbɪlɪti/
able to be destroyed
Etymology
'destructibility' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'destructibilis', where 'de-' meant 'away/apart' and 'struere' (root of 'struct') meant 'to build/arrange'.
'destructibility' changed from Late Latin 'destructibilis' (through French influence as 'destructible') and was formed in English by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ity' to 'destructible', eventually becoming the modern English word 'destructibility'.
Initially it meant 'capable of being destroyed' in a literal physical sense; over time it has retained that core meaning but has also been used in broader or more abstract contexts (e.g., legal, digital, or conceptual destructibility).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality, state, or capacity of being destroyed; the property of being able to be demolished, ruined, or broken down.
The destructibility of the old bridge worried the engineers during the storm season.
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Noun 2
the degree to which something is easily damaged or broken; a measure of susceptibility to harm or decay.
Researchers tested the destructibility of different materials under high heat.
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Last updated: 2025/09/21 22:34