Polarizability is defined as the

Polarizability is defined as the ability of an electron cloud of an atom or molecule to be distorted from its normal shape by an external electric field, creating an induced dipole. It quantifies the extent to which the electron cloud can be distorted, indicating how easily the electrons can be displaced. This property is crucial in understanding various physical and chemical phenomena, such as dielectric constants, refractive indexes, and van der Waals forces. Higher polarizability suggests a more easily distorted electron cloud, affecting how substances interact with electromagnetic fields and with each other.