dexterity

C2+ Topic:Mind & Cognition

US /dɛkˈstɛrəti/ UK /dɛkˈstɛrɪti/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
skill and ease in using the hands or the mind

The surgeon's dexterity made the procedure look effortless.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · skill and ease in using the... adroitnessdeftnessnimbleness skill agility finesse proficiency

Opposites

clumsiness awkwardness ineptitudeineptness

Word family

Related forms dexterousdextrousambidextrous dexter

Etymology

From Latin dexteritas ('readiness, skill'), from dexter ('right-handed, skillful'), from Proto-Indo-European *deḱs- ('right side, south').

dexteritas Latin dexter Latin *deḱs- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Mind & Cognition Word Formation & Derivatives

# dexterity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** dɛkˈstɛrəti
**IPA (UK):** dɛkˈstɛrɪti

## Meanings
1. skill and ease in using the hands or the mind

## Examples
- The surgeon's dexterity made the procedure look effortless.

## Synonyms
- adroitness
- deftness
- nimbleness
- skill
- agility
- finesse
- proficiency

## Antonyms
- clumsiness
- awkwardness
- ineptitude
- ineptness

## Related Forms
- dexterous
- dextrous
- ambidextrous
- dexter

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: dexteritas
- Root: dexter
- Root: *deḱs-

## Etymology
From Latin dexteritas ('readiness, skill'), from dexter ('right-handed, skillful'), from Proto-Indo-European *deḱs- ('right side, south').

## AI Etymology
Dexterity comes from Latin dexteritas ('readiness, skill'), from dexter ('right-handed, skillful'), from Proto-Indo-European *deḱs- ('right side, south'). The historical trail runs through Latin dexteritas, Latin dexter and Proto-Indo-European *deḱs-. In modern use it means skill and ease in using the hands or the mind. Related forms include dexterous, dextrous, ambidextrous, dexter.

## Topics
- Mind & Cognition
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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