Capability and ability are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between ability vs capability. If you’re looking for more information about this subject, we’ve got you covered.
Ability
Ability to do a task means that you can do it and have done it in the past. Ability is the quality or caliber to do any task be it mentally, physically, or otherwise. . Ability is the generic, non-quantifiable quality of being able to do something. It is a talent, a natural skill, which can’t be measured.
It represents talents, special skills or aptitudes. for example – composing music is beyond his abilities.
Ability is also used as a suffix – stability, probability, disability, etc. these are nouns of the adjective like stable, probable, disable, etc.
Even capability comes from capable + ability.
- She has the ability to read minds.
- She has shown some ability with foreign languages.
- Ronit has the ability to grasp maths concepts very fast.
- This phone has the ability to have its software upgraded wirelessly.
capability
Capability is the potential to do a task. Whether you are able to do the task at the moment or not, you have the capability or potential to do it sometime. capability is often used in terms of organization or institution.
- The device has the capability of recording two television channels at once.
- the nature of the tasks to which you are assigned will depend on your capabilities
- Their military capability has been reduced.
- This will damage the fighting capabilities of the armed forces
It represents qualities, abilities, features, etc., that can be used or developed.
Ability vs capability comparison chart
| parameter of comparison | Ability | capability |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Ability is the quality or caliber to do any task be it mentally, physically, or otherwise. | Capability is the potential to do a task |
| usage | ability is usually used in reference to individuals | capability is generally used with reference to organizations |
| part of speech | ability is used as a noun that comes from an adjective able | ability is used as a noun that comes from an adjective capable |
| Antonym | inability, disability, etc | incapability, ineptness, etc |
| synonym | calibre, competence, aptitupe, etc. | potential, competence, etc. |
| Example | He has the ability to bring out the best in others. | You need the full physical capability to fly. |
Ability vs capability Difference
Ability is a person’s current level of performance or achievement. Capability is the state of being able to do something.
Capability can be improved with practice or experience, but ability alone does not always equal capability. For Example- The ability to play tennis well enough to win matches at Wimbledon may not translate into being able to beat any other player in their particular league because they do not have the necessary skillset (playing against others).
A person who has been playing tennis since childhood could be less skilled than someone who started playing recently, but they could still be considered more capable than those who only started recently because they’ve had more time and practice under their belt for years now—even if it doesn’t seem like much when compared side-by-side with someone else’s skill set!
Conclusion
As you can see, these terms are often used synonymously, but they aren’t necessarily so. The ability to do something is a prerequisite for being able to achieve something, but it’s not necessarily the same thing as capability. Capability is more about what you’re capable of doing than your current level of skill or competency. You can improve your capability by learning new skills and developing new competencies in different areas throughout life; however, what you were born with may still be holding you back from achieving greatness.
