dexterity

Language: en

🇺🇸 /dɛˈkstɛrətiː/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    Skill and ease in performing physical tasks, especially with the hands; manual agility and coordination.; Mental skill or quickness; cleverness in thinking or reasoning.; In role-playing games, a character attribute representing agility, reflexes, and coordination.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

manual dexteritywith great dexterityphysical dexteritymental dexterityremarkable dexterity

Derivatives

dexterousdexterouslydextrousdextrouslydextralambidextrousambidexterity

Synonyms

agilitynimblenessadroitnessdeftnessfinesseskill

Antonyms

clumsinessawkwardnessineptitude

Commonly confused

agility
EN: 'Agility' emphasizes speed and quickness of movement; 'dexterity' emphasizes skill and precision, especially of the hands.
dexterous
EN: 'Dexterous' is the adjective form meaning skillful; 'dexterity' is the noun form meaning the quality of being skillful.

Spelling tips

EN: Note the 'x' in the middle and the '-ity' ending. The adjective can be spelled 'dexterous' or 'dextrous'—both are acceptable, though 'dexterous' is more common in American English.

💬 Examples

  1. The surgeon's dexterity with the scalpel saved the patient's life.

  2. She handled the difficult questions with remarkable intellectual dexterity.

  3. The rogue class relies heavily on dexterity for stealth and ranged attacks.