flexible

flexible — adjective

1. describes a person, plan, or system that can change easily when new needs, condi

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a person, plan, or system that can change easily when new needs, conditions, or limits appear — rather than staying fixed to one way of doing things.

Example

Eitan's work schedule is flexible, so he can start later when his daughter is sick.

collocation: flexible schedule

The company offers flexible working hours for parents with young children.

collocation: flexible working hours

Common collocations
  • flexible approach
  • flexible schedule
  • flexible hours
  • flexible policy
  • flexible arrangement
  • flexible plan
  • flexible working
Synonyms
  • adaptable

    very close in meaning; emphasises the ability to adjust to new conditions rather than willingness to change plans

  • adjustable

    more mechanical — used for objects with settings (e.g. an adjustable chair) rather than people or policies

  • versatile

    broader — describes something that has many uses or a person who can do many things well

Antonyms
  • inflexible

    direct opposite; refuses to change despite new circumstances

  • rigid

    stronger than inflexible; suggests strictness that cannot be altered at all

  • fixed

    describes something that is set and deliberately not changed

Grammar Patterns

flexible enough + to-infinitive

flexible about/in/with + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Often describes arrangements (schedules, rules, policies) rather than personal character — though 'a flexible person' is also common.

Common Mistakes

She is very flexible for learning new languages.
She is very flexible about learning new languages.
'flexible about' is the correct preposition to indicate the area in which change is possible.
The manager was flexible with changed the plan.
The manager was flexible about changing the plan.
'flexible about' is followed by a gerund (changing), not a past-tense verb.

2. describes a material or object that can be bent, curved, or twisted without crac

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a material or object that can be bent, curved, or twisted without cracking or snapping.

Example

Hao's yoga mat is made of flexible rubber that rolls up easily for travel.

collocation: flexible rubber

The flexible plastic tube bent around the corner without breaking.

collocation: flexible plastic

Common collocations
  • flexible material
  • flexible plastic
  • flexible rubber
  • flexible wire
  • flexible tube
  • flexible metal
  • flexible bamboo
Synonyms
  • bendable

    more informal and everyday; common in product descriptions

  • pliable

    suggests softness and ease of bending, often for leather, clay, or fabric

  • supple

    suggests smooth, graceful bending — often used for skin, leather, or the body

Antonyms
  • stiff

    resists bending; the most common everyday opposite

  • rigid

    cannot bend at all; often used for structures or materials that hold their shape

  • brittle

    breaks easily when bent — describes glass, dry leaves, or old plastic

Grammar Patterns

flexible + noun (material or object)

Usage Note

Subject is typically a solid material such as plastic, rubber, metal, wood, or leather. Do not use for liquids, gases, or brittle substances like glass.

Common Mistakes

The rubber band is flexibility.
The rubber band is flexible.
'flexible' is an adjective; 'flexibility' is the noun form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Flexible, adaptable, and versatile all describe the ability to handle change, but they highlight different aspects. Flexible emphasises a willingness or capacity to change arrangements, rules, or opinions when circumstances require it — a flexible schedule shifts easily. Adaptable focuses on the skill of adjusting to new conditions over time; an adaptable employee picks up unfamiliar software quickly. Versatile has a broader scope — it describes something or someone that can serve many different functions: a versatile chef can cook Italian, Thai, and Mexican dishes equally well. While a flexible person changes their plan, an adaptable person changes their approach, and a versatile person can do many things from the start.

flexible ↗adaptableversatile ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • extremely flexible
  • highly flexible
  • very flexible
  • fairly flexible
  • quite flexible

Phrases

  • flexible enough

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Flexible comes from the Latin word 'flexibilis', meaning 'that may be bent', which itself comes from 'flectere' meaning 'to bend'. The physical meaning — able to bend without breaking — was the original sense. Over time, English speakers began using it for people and systems that could 'bend' like a flexible material: adjusting to new situations instead of staying rigid.