Origin: Latin suffix -ible
Flexible has 7 different meanings across 1 category:
Something that is flexible.
"The yoga instructor praised her students for being physically flexible enough to touch their toes without straining."
In plain English: A flexible person is someone who can easily change their plans or opinions when things don't go as expected.
"The old leather strap provided enough flexible to secure the loose tool."
Usage: Use "flexible" only as an adjective to describe something that bends easily; it does not function as a noun in standard English. Instead, refer to such an object by its specific name or use the phrase "a flexible item."
making or willing to make concessions
"loneliness tore through him...whenever he thought of...even the compromising Louis du Tillet"
Capable of being flexed or bent without breaking; able to be turned or twisted without breaking.
"The old wooden chair leg was surprisingly flexible, bending under my weight without snapping off."
In plain English: Flexible means able to bend easily without breaking.
"The schedule is flexible enough to accommodate my changing meeting times."
Usage: Use flexible to describe objects that can bend or twist without breaking, such as metal sheets or plastic tubing. It also applies to people who are adaptable and willing to change their plans when necessary.
The word flexible comes from the Latin verb flectō, meaning "to bend or curve." It entered English via Middle French as a term for something capable of being bent without breaking.