Which definition best describes the adjective flexible?

• A. Pliable; capable of being manipulated
• B. Able to be bent
• C. Able to change or be modified
• D. Stiff and unyielding

Answer: (C)

Flexibility is about the ability to adapt or change, not just something that can physically bend. The best definition to capture this broader sense is “able to change or be modified.” It covers both the literal sense of bending and the figurative sense of adjusting plans, rules, or approaches to new circumstances. The option “able to be bent” only describes a physical property and misses how flexibility is used in everyday language. “Pliable; capable of being manipulated” suggests being easily influenced by others, which isn’t inherent to the idea of flexibility itself. And “stiff and unyielding” is simply the opposite of flexible. So, the most accurate description is the ability to change or be modified.