reliability

nounC1Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #11,887 of 15,258mostly written

Reliability is whether repeating a study gives the same answer. Test reliability, poor reliability, reliability and validity.

It is not the same as validity: a measure can be perfectly reliable and measure the wrong thing entirely, giving you the same wrong answer every time. Both are needed. In ordinary use the word simply means dependability. Note rely beneath it.

Definitions of reliability

1nounreliabilityWhether a measure gives the same answer when repeated.C1
“To test the reliability of the survey, they gave the same group the same questions a month later.”

reliability is a quality of measurement.

Where it comes from

From reliable + -ity.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Academic English

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reliability in the wild

NERC's mission "is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid".
North American Electric Reliability Corporation
In Classical Test Theory, reliability is the proportion of the observed test score variation due to "true" score variation.
Reliability (statistics)
The reliability function is theoretically defined as the probability of success.
Reliability engineering
Prevention of human error is generally seen as a major contributor to reliability and safety of (complex) systems.
Human error
Successful implementation of RCM will lead to increase in cost effectiveness, reliability, machine uptime, and a greater understanding of the level of risk that the organization is managing.
Reliability-centered maintenance

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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