educable

American  

[ej-oo-kuh-buhl] / ˈɛdʒ ʊ kə bəl /

Also educatable

adjective

1. capable of being educated.

2. of or relating to individuals with mild intellectual disabilities who may achieve self-sufficiency.

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educable British  

/ ˈɛdjʊkəbəl, ˈɛdjʊˌkeɪtəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being trained or educated; able to learn

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• educability
  noun
• noneducable
  adjective
• uneducability
  noun
• uneducable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of educable

First recorded in 1835–45; educ(ate) + -able

Explanation

If someone's educable, they're capable of being taught. Although not a single student in your beginning Spanish class knows how to speak the language yet, your teacher has faith that you're all educable. You may have given up hope on your old dog, fearing he'll never learn to sit on command. If a good dog trainer tells you he's still educable, that means she believes that she can teach him to do it, using plenty of treats and positive reinforcement. Anyone who can get something out of an education is educable — in other words, able to be educated.