What does attainability mean?
Attainability is a noun denoting the extent to which something — most often a goal, target, standard, or objective — can realistically be achieved or reached. It is formed from the adjective 'attainable', which derives ultimately from the Latin verb attingere, meaning to touch or reach. The word belongs chiefly to formal registers: it appears frequently in strategic planning, project management, education policy, and scientific writing, where planners must evaluate whether stated ambitions are grounded in reality. To speak of the attainability of a target is to ask not merely whether it is theoretically possible but whether it lies within practical reach given available resources, time, and constraints. The word carries a neutral, analytical tone rather than an emotional one, though it often arises in contexts of doubt or scrutiny, as when critics question the attainability of a government pledge. Because it is long and abstract, everyday speech usually favors simpler alternatives such as 'feasibility' or asking whether something is 'doable', making attainability a marker of considered, professional prose.
nounThe quality or state of being attainable; the degree to which something can be achieved, reached, or obtained.
- The quality of being achievable or reachable, especially of goals, targets, or objectives.
- The state of being obtainable or accessible.
"The committee questioned the attainability of the five-year emissions target."
"Critics doubted the attainability of the company's ambitious sales projections."
"For many students, the high tuition fees put even public universities beyond their attainability."
Rarely used in the plural; the word is almost always treated as uncountable. A plural may occasionally appear when contrasting different degrees or kinds of achievability.
"The study compared the attainabilities of various climate pledges across regions."
Strip away the '-ity' and you find 'attain' — from Latin attingere, literally 'to touch or reach all the way to' — so every goal you assess for attainability is really a question of how far your arm can stretch.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of attainability
Attainability derives from the adjective 'attainable' combined with the noun-forming suffix '-ity'. 'Attain' entered English in the Middle Ages from Old French ataindre, itself from Latin attingere, meaning 'to touch, reach, or arrive at', formed from ad- ('to') plus tangere ('to touch'). The same Latin root gives English words such as 'contact', 'tangible', 'contingent', and 'tactile'. The suffixed form 'attainability' developed later, in line with other abstract nouns in '-ability' that flourished from the early modern period onward.
How attainability is actually used
Attainability is a formal, somewhat abstract noun typical of business, policy, and academic writing. It is far less common than the adjective 'attainable'; writers often prefer phrases like 'how achievable it is'.
Easily confused with attainability
Obtainability refers to being able to get or acquire something (often a physical item or resource), whereas attainability refers to achieving or reaching something such as a goal or level.