reversible

[ ri-vur-suh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of reversing or of being reversed.
2. able to be reversed or undone so that the original condition is restored:

   Some changes caused by hormonal steroids are not reversible, such as male pattern baldness.

   I knew I'd probably have to replace the canvas someday, so I used a reversible adhesive for easy removal.

3. (of a fabric) woven or printed so that either side may be exposed.
4. that can be worn or displayed with either side out:

   No matter which way he wears this reversible jacket, he'll be warm and stylish.

5. able to be installed so as to be used with either hand, turn clockwise or counterclockwise, open on either side, etc.:

   Quiet, roomy, and with a reversible door, this refrigerator comes with a 10-year warranty.

noun

1. a garment, especially a coat, that can be worn with either side exposed.

reversible

/ rɪˈvɜːsəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being reversed

   a reversible decision

2. capable of returning to an original condition
3. chem physics capable of assuming or producing either of two possible states and changing from one to the other

   a reversible reaction

4. thermodynamics (of a change, process, etc) occurring through a number of intermediate states that are all in thermodynamic equilibrium
5. (of a fabric or garment) woven, printed, or finished so that either side may be used as the outer side

noun

1. a reversible garment, esp a coat

Derived Forms

• reˌversiˈbility, noun
• reˈversibly, adverb

Other Words From

• re·vers·i·bil·i·ty [ri-vur-s, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], re·vers·i·ble·ness noun
• re·vers·i·bly adverb
• non·re·vers·i·ble adjective
• non·re·vers·i·bly adverb
• un·re·vers·i·ble adjective
• un·re·vers·i·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of reversible¹

First recorded in 1640–50; reverse + -ible

Example Sentences

“These medications are fully reversible,” says Russell Toomey, a family studies and human development researcher at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

From Science News

Bitcoin transactions are often not reversible, so it’s important to be certain about your choices ahead of time.

From Washington Blade

While nature did emerge more resilient and diverse after each great extinction of the past, there is no guarantee, given the scale and the swiftness of the present extinction, that it is at all reversible.

From Washington Post

In 1972 Landauer hired the theoretical computer scientist Charlie Bennett, who showed that the increase in entropy can be avoided by a computer that performs its computations in a reversible manner.

From MIT Technology Review

Normally, the process is transient and reversible on a gene.

From Singularity Hub 

Vasalgel, a reversible form of male birth control, just took one step closer to your vas deferens.

From The Daily Beast

But what if vasectomies were cheap, non-invasive, fully reversible, and as widespread as the female birth control pill?

From The Daily Beast

Vasalgel, a reversible, non-hormonal polymer that blocks the vas deferens, is about to enter human trials.

From The Daily Beast

While the syndrome is largely reversible, Takotsubo also requires careful attention during its acute phase.

From The Daily Beast

Once people believe daughters can do as well or better than sons, how much of that attitude is really reversible?

From The Daily Beast

The relations, so far considered, have been those of the simplest type of reversible reaction.

From Project Gutenberg

The complex ion is not perfectly stable and so the action is a reversible one, as indicated in the equation.

From Project Gutenberg

The heavy arrows indicate the main course the reversible actions take, under the influence of the reagents used.

From Project Gutenberg

Each seat is three feet four inches long, placed at right angles to the window, and has a reversible back.

From Project Gutenberg

As the coat is reversible the buttons should be sewn on the left front for a girl, and the right front for a boy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• capricious
• fickle
• fluctuating
• mercurial
• protean
• shifting
• unpredictable
• unsettled
• unstable
• varying
• volatile