potable

American  

[poh-tuh-buhl] / ˈpoʊ tə bəl /

adjective

1. fit or suitable for drinking.

   potable water.

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noun

1. Usually potables. drinkable liquids; beverages.

potable British  

/ ˈpəʊtəbəl /

adjective

1. fit to drink; drinkable

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noun

1. something fit to drink; a beverage

Other Word Forms

• nonpotable adjective
• potability noun
• potableness noun
• unpotable adjective

Etymology

Origin of potable

1565–75; < Late Latin pōtābilis drinkable, equivalent to Latin pōtā ( re ) to drink + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

Several are backpacking sites and do not offer potable water.

From Los Angeles Times

Burr and his co-conspirators absconded with the money, and it took another 40 years for New Yorkers to gain wide access to potable water.

From Barron's

Hikers often carry the drops, or tablets, using small amounts to make quarts of fresh water potable.

From Salon

The artificial intelligence platforms created by Musk and his compatriots gobbled up ever greater shares of US gross domestic product, energy output and potable water.

From Salon

Although the company has access to municipal potable and wastewater, as well as a groundwater lease with the university system, Stein said it is likely to face questions about water access from the NRC.

From The Wall Street Journal