distinguishable
Americanadjective
-
able to be recognized as different, usually by means of some readily noticed feature or characteristic.
The forged bills were easily distinguishable from real ones because they only had printing on one side.
-
able to be perceived or discerned.
A large gray SUV followed in close pursuit, with the general’s silhouette vaguely distinguishable in the back seat.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of distinguishable
Explanation
Something that's distinguishable can be detected or observed, especially as being separate or different from something else. The one chocolate sea salt doughnut in the box will be easily distinguishable from the plain doughnuts. In some people with color blindness, red isn't distinguishable from green — in other words, it can't be perceived as a different, separate color. You might complain that the policies of your city's new mayor, despite her promises, are barely distinguishable from those of her predecessor. The verb distinguish is at the heart of this adjective, and it comes from the Latin distinguere, "to separate between."
Vocabulary lists containing distinguishable
Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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Words with 15 or More Letters, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dolby uses a measurement called Millions of Distinguishable Colors, which captures how many different colors a TV can show that human vision can distinguish.
From Slate • Sep. 1, 2018
Distinguishable even amidst this brilliant and knightly throng is Sir Jocelyn Mounchensey.
From The Star-Chamber, Volume 2 An Historical Romance by Ainsworth, William Harrison
The other shape, If shape it might be called that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb.
From Familiar Quotations by Bartlett, John
Distinguishable even from Flossy—from Flossy, who had slighted and then reviled her!
From Unleavened Bread by Grant, Robert
Distinguishable from afar by unusual height in proportion to its breadth within, the church of Saint Hubert had an atmosphere, a daylight, to itself.
From Gaston de Latour; an unfinished romance by Pater, Walter
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
