What does intelligibility mean?
Intelligibility is the quality of being understandable. It describes how easily a person can grasp what is being said, written, or communicated, and it is especially common in discussions of speech, pronunciation, writing, and audience design. A text or presentation may be difficult because its ideas are complex, because its language is obscure, or because its delivery is unclear; intelligibility focuses on whether the intended meaning can successfully be understood. The word is useful because it separates the question of meaning from the question of comprehension: an argument may be sophisticated and still fail to be intelligible if it is poorly expressed. In communication research and technology, the term often refers to how readily speech can be recognized and understood, including by listeners in noisy environments or people with hearing difficulties.
nounThe quality of being able to be understood, especially the ease with which speech, writing, or an idea can be comprehended. It can also refer to the degree to which something is intelligible to a particular audience.
- The quality of being understandable, especially through speech, writing, or communication.
- The degree to which a person or audience is able to understand an utterance, text, or idea.
"The lecturer improved the intelligibility of her explanation by speaking more clearly and defining the key terms."
"Clear pronunciation and careful pacing can greatly improve the intelligibility of a public address announcement."
"The report considers the intelligibility of the instructions for readers with limited technical knowledge."
The plural is grammatical but uncommon; it is normally used when comparing the intelligibility of different languages, speakers, messages, or systems.
"The study compares the intelligibilities of the two regional varieties of the language."
Intelligibility is not the same as simplicity: a message can be intellectually demanding yet still be clearly explained.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intelligibility come from?
Intelligibility comes through French from Latin intellegere, meaning 'to understand' or 'to perceive clearly'. The Latin root combines in-, a form of in- meaning 'into' or 'upon', with legere, meaning 'to read' or 'to gather'. The development of intelligible and then intelligibility reflects the broader English use of intelligent and intelligence in the sense of understanding.
Related word forms
How intelligibility is actually used
Most often used in discussions of speech, language, communication, or information design. In technical and communication contexts, it often means how easily speech can be understood, as distinct from how accurate or informative it is.