agile

[aj-uhl, -ahyl]

adjective

1. quick and well-coordinated in movement; lithe.

   an agile leap.

   Synonyms: limber, supple
   Antonyms: awkward

2. active; lively.

   an agile person.

   Synonyms: spry, energetic, brisk, sprightly, nimble
   Antonyms: lethargic, sluggish

3. marked by an ability to think quickly; mentally acute or aware.

   She's 95 and still very agile.

4. noting or relating to a philosophy of product development and production intended to create and distribute batches of working products in a short period of time with subsequent batches planned in a cyclical schedule of improvement, production, and distribution: agile manufacturing;

   agile software programming;

   agile manufacturing;

   agile teams.

noun

1. Sometimes Agile an iterative and collaborative philosophy of rapid product development and production.

   Agile is being used by more and more companies outside of the tech sector.

agile

/ əˈdʒɪlɪtɪ, ˈædʒaɪl /

adjective

1. quick in movement; nimble

2. mentally quick or acute

Other Word Forms

• agility noun
• agilely adverb
• agileness noun
• unagile adjective
• unagilely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of agile¹

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier agill, from Middle French agile “nimble” and Latin agilis “easily moved, moving easily,” equivalent to ag- (base of agere “to do, drive”) + -ilis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of agile¹

C15: from Latin agilis, from agere to do, act

Example Sentences

In the email, he wrote the return-to-office directive was aimed at “building a stronger, more connected, and agile organization that can deliver on our goals and compete at the highest level.”

From Los Angeles Times

"They can show off these flashy advanced platforms, but are they organisationally agile to use them in the way they want to?"

From BBC

This is the new white nationalism: decentralized, modernized, more agile and disguised as self-improvement.

From Salon

"The perception is that Cambodia has appeared more agile, more assertive and more media savvy," said Clare Patchimanon, speaking on the Thai Public Broadcasting System podcast Media Pulse.

From BBC

"Going forward, I think every day you can go out there and be agile and tactical and grab that business," Ms Warwick said.

From BBC

Related Words

• athletic 
• buoyant 
• energetic 
• frisky 
• limber 
• lithe 
• lively 
• quick 
• rapid 
• sharp 
• spirited 
• sprightly 
• supple