submersible

[suhb-mur-suh-buhl]

adjective

1. capable of being submersed. submersed.

2. capable of functioning while submersed: submersed.

   a submersible pump.

noun

1. a ship capable of submerging and operating under water; submarine.

2. a device designed for underwater work or exploration, as a bathyscaphe or diving bell.

submersible

/ səbˈmɜːdʒɪbəl, səbˈmɜːsəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be submerged

2. capable of operating under water, etc

noun

1. a vessel designed to operate under water for short periods

2. a submarine taking one or more men that is designed and equipped to carry out work in deep water below the levels at which divers can work

Other Word Forms

• submersibility noun
• nonsubmersible adjective
• unsubmersible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of submersible¹

First recorded in 1865–70; submerse + -ible

Example Sentences

The two people survived an attack on a submersible Thursday and were rescued by the U.S. military.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Others onboard the submersible died in the attack, the officials said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

OceanGate's Titan submersible imploded on its journey to the wreck of the Titantic because of poor engineering and multiple failures to test the vessel, according to an official report.

Read more on BBC

Flawed engineering and inadequate testing contributed to the catastrophic implosion of a private submersible during a 2023 expedition to the Titanic wreckage, the US National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday.

Read more on Barron's

A crane able to lift 50 tonnes loads various things, from submersible robots to so-called CTD instruments measuring electrical conductivity, temperature and seawater pressure.

Read more on Barron's