Definition

The quality or condition of a material that makes it easy to be shaped or cut by machines.

Example

The machinability of aluminum makes it a popular choice for manufacturing parts.

Conversation

I was reading about materials and their machinability yesterday.

Oh really? What did you learn?

I found out that some metals are much easier to work with due to their machinability.

That makes sense; it’s important for manufacturing processes.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Machinability is formed from "machine" (from French *machine*, meaning a mechanical device) and "-ability" (meaning the quality of being able to). The word refers to the quality of a material to be machined or worked on by machines.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'machine' that can work on materials, and '-ability' means the quality of being able to do something. So, machinability is about how well a material can be worked on by machines.

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