legible

American  

[lej-uh-buhl] / ˈlɛdʒ ə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being read or deciphered, especially with ease, as writing or printing; easily readable.

2. capable of being discerned or distinguished.

   Anger was legible in his looks and behavior.

---

legible British  

/ ˈlɛdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. (of handwriting, print, etc) able to be read or deciphered

2. able to be discovered; discernible

---

Other Word Forms

• legibility
  noun
• legibly
  adverb
• unlegible
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of legible

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin legibilis; equivalent to leg(ere) “to read” + -ibilis -ible

Explanation

Legible describes readable print or handwriting. If someone tells you that your writing looks like "chicken scratch," it might not be legible, except to other chickens. Legible goes back to the Latin word legibilis, meaning "that can be read." If you can read someone's handwriting, it is legible. The person might not have perfect penmanship, but if you decipher the letters, the writing is legible. People's signatures are especially notorious for not being legible — that's why we often must print or type our names below.

Example Sentences

Legible or not, that kind of thing was not to everyone's taste.

From Time Magazine Archive

Inscribed above the portal from afar, Conspicuous as the brightness of a star, Legible only by the light they give, Stand the soul-quickening words—Believe and Live.’”

From The Wesleyan Methodist Pulpit in Malvern Sermons Preached at the Opening Services of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, in 1866 by King, Knowles

Legible, lej′i-bl, adj. that may be read: that may be understood.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

"Legible comicality for stablin' a shailor-top!" stammers Joe, mimicking his brother.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 83, September, 1864 by Various

Legible, clean-cut, comparatively cheap, these books demonstrated once for all the success of the new art, even though, for illuminated initials, they were still dependent on the hand of the scribe.

From The Age of the Reformation by Smith, Preserved

Related Words

• coherent
• distinct
• intelligible
• lucid
• neat
• readable
• understandable