legible

[lej-uh-buhl]

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

/ ˈlɛdʒəbəl /

adjective

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

2. able to be discovered; discernible

Other Word Forms

• legibly adverb
• unlegible adjective
• legibility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of legible¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of legible¹

C14: from Late Latin legibilis, from Latin legere to read

Example Sentences

"It shook the conscience of this court as not even a word or a letter was legible," he wrote in the order.

Read more on BBC

The bandmates dressed in secondhand suits that made them look posh to some and, perhaps more damningly, refused to flatten their class identity into something easily legible.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Mom’s Meals menu is full of familiar comforts engineered to be legible as “healthy.”

Read more on Salon

"I was shocked when she did, I couldn't believe how legible it was," she said.

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The printed, V-shaped tarp is easily legible to drivers traveling to and from a Joshua Tree National Park visitors center.

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Related Words

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