Definition

: to make easier : help bring about

Did You Know?

As with so many English words, it’s easy to find a Latin origin for facilitate. It traces back to the Latin adjective facilis, meaning “easy.” Other descendants of facilis in English include facile (“easy to do”), facility (“the quality of being easily performed”), faculty (“ability”), and difficult (from dis- plus facilis, which equals “not easy”). Facilis in turn comes from facere, a Latin verb meaning “to make or do.” Facere has played a role in the development of dozens of English words, ranging from affect to surfeit.

Examples

“The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 freed most of America’s important waterways from private ownership and thereby facilitated the uninterrupted movement of American commerce.” — Mark R. Brown, Cleveland.com, 11 Mar. 2020