What does agiler mean?
Agiler is the comparative form of the adjective agile, meaning more agile — that is, more capable of moving quickly, easily, and gracefully, whether literally with the body or figuratively with the mind. A dancer who has grown agiler moves with greater fluidity; a company described as agiler responds to market changes faster than its competitors. The word derives from agile, which entered English from French and ultimately traces back to the Latin agilis, meaning quick or nimble, itself rooted in the verb agere, to do or drive. Although fully standard, agiler competes with the periphrastic form 'more agile', which many style-conscious writers favor for two-syllable adjectives. It carries an entirely positive connotation, suggesting suppleness, responsiveness, and energy, and it appears most frequently in discussions of athletics, physical training, and organizational adaptability.
adjective (comparative form)The comparative form of the adjective 'agile'; more agile, meaning able to move quickly and easily, or more mentally quick and adaptable.
- More physically nimble; able to move with greater speed, ease, and grace.
- More mentally quick or adaptable; better able to respond to change.
"After months of training, she was far agiler on the climbing wall than her teammates."
"The younger goalkeeper was noticeably agiler, diving to save shots that would have beaten him a season ago."
"Startups that stay agiler than their corporate rivals can pivot before markets shift against them."
Comparatives like 'agiler' are perfectly grammatical, yet style guides often prefer 'more agile' — making 'agiler' one of those forms that sounds slightly off even though it isn't wrong.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of agiler
Agiler is formed by adding the comparative suffix -er to agile, an English adjective borrowed from French agile in the early 17th century. The French word comes from Latin agilis, meaning quick or nimble, derived from the verb agere, meaning to set in motion or to do. This same Latin root gives English a family of related words including agility, agitate, agent, and act.
Word family
Usage notes
While 'agiler' is a valid comparative form, many writers prefer 'more agile', particularly in formal prose, since two-syllable adjectives ending in -le vary in how naturally they take the -er suffix. The word appears most often in sports, fitness, and business contexts.
Don't confuse with
'Fragile' means easily broken, while 'agiler' describes greater ease and speed of movement; despite a similar ending, they are unrelated in meaning.