reliability
reliability — noun
1. how trustworthy or dependable someone or something is, shown by working or behav
how trustworthy or dependable someone or something is, shown by working or behaving as expected so that people can trust them.
Maja's reliability at work earned her a promotion after only one year.
possessive + reliability + prepositional phrase
The reliability of online reviews is hard to judge when anyone can post fake comments.
the reliability of [noun phrase] as subject
Before hiring a nanny, the Andrés family asked for references to confirm his reliability.
Putri built a strong reputation for reliability by always finishing her tasks on schedule.
- trustworthiness
very close in meaning; emphasises moral character and honesty more than performance
- dependability
interchangeable in most contexts; slightly more common for describing people than machines
- credibility
focuses on whether information or a claim can be believed; does not apply to people's work habits
- unreliability
direct opposite; describes someone or something that cannot be trusted
- dishonesty
narrower — focuses on lying rather than general dependability
文法句型
the reliability of [noun phrase]
[possessive] reliability as [noun]
用法筆記
Often preceded by a possessive or 'the reliability of' to specify whose or what reliability is being discussed.
常見錯誤
2. how well a machine, product, or method keeps working correctly over a long time,
how well a machine, product, or method keeps working correctly over a long time, avoiding failure or producing different results.
Engineers tested the bridge's reliability by running heavy trucks across it daily for two months.
The lab measured the new battery's reliability by charging and discharging it five hundred times.
measured [noun]'s reliability by [gerund]
Car buyers often check consumer reports to learn about a model's long-term reliability.
Medical researchers must prove the reliability of their test results before publishing a study.
- durability
focuses on physical strength and resistance to wear; does not cover consistency of results
- consistency
emphasises producing the same output each time; common in scientific and manufacturing contexts
- stability
implies the system does not change or fluctuate; often used for networks, software, and emotions
- unreliability
direct opposite; frequent breakdowns or inconsistent results
- inconsistency
focuses on varying results rather than outright failure
文法句型
the reliability of [machine/product]
[noun] + reliability
long-term reliability
用法筆記
Common with nouns for equipment (engine, battery, network) and scientific methods (test, measurement, result). Not used for people's character in this sense.