Definition:
Legibility is the degree to which a person, behaviour, identity, or activity can be easily categorised, measured, predicted, or managed by a system.
Usage Context:
Used in discussions of bureaucracy, data systems, governance, welfare, policing, workplaces, and digital platforms that rely on standardised information.
Critical Note:
Legibility benefits systems more than individuals. What is easily understood by a system is easier to control, optimise, or exclude, regardless of whether that understanding reflects lived reality.