readable

American  

[ree-duh-buhl] / ˈri də bəl /

adjective

1. easy or interesting to read.

2. capable of being read; legible.

   readable handwriting.

3. pertaining to letter mail with addresses and zip codes capable of being read by optical scanning devices.

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readable British  

/ ˈriːdəbəl /

adjective

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

2. (of style of writing) interesting, easy, or pleasant to read

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Other Word Forms

• readability noun
• readably adverb

Etymology

Origin of readable

First recorded in 1560–70; read ¹ + -able

Example Sentences

Of those that were readable, many were either already public or provided minimal information.

From Salon

He began building the book, which grew to have a color-coded system readable at a glance: red for punt, yellow for attempt a field goal and green for go.

From The Wall Street Journal

This huge volume is readable in a way that too many collections of writers’ letters, however useful to scholarly research, simply are not.

From The Wall Street Journal

Early reviews suggest an uneven result: some critics call it “very readable,” while others dismiss it as “a frustrating slog” that leaves both supporters and critics wanting more.

From Salon

The show’s thorough, wonderfully readable catalog refers to the power of “funerary magnificence” in the kingdom’s social structure.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absorbing
• amusing
• appealing
• eloquent
• engaging
• engrossing
• enjoyable
• entertaining
• enthralling
• fascinating
• gripping
• interesting
• rewarding
• satisfying
• well-written
• worthwhile