Ability vs. capability vs. capacity

What does ability mean?

Ability is a noun that refers to the possession of the skill or power, both physical or mental, to do something.

For example:

• When you’ve finished this course, you’ll have the ability to drive a car.

• You should do your job to the best of your ability.

What does capability mean?

Capability is a noun that refers to one’s power to do something challenging, or be used in a particular way.

For example:

• These robots have the capability to drive trains.

• The submarine has enhanced radio communication capability.

What does capacity mean?

Capacity is a noun that refers to the amount something can produce, or the maximum amount something, such as a vessel, can contain. It can also be used figuratively to refer to one’s ability to learn, as a synonym for ability, such as capacity for love, or when referring to someone’s job or role.

For example:

• When the submarine is running at full capacity, it needs 200 staff to operate.

• She has joined our team in an advisory capacity.

What’s the difference between ability, capability and capacity?

Ability refers to skill or power, both physical or mental, to do something, while capability implies one’s power to do something of a more challenging nature. Capacity refers to the amount something can produce, or the maximum amount something, such as a vessel, can contain.

For example:

• While she has the capability to lead this project, she’s already at capacity with her current workload.