acceptable

American  

[ak-sep-tuh-buhl] / ækˈsɛp tə bəl /

adjective

1. capable or worthy of being accepted.

2. pleasing to the receiver; satisfactory; agreeable; welcome.

3. meeting only minimum requirements; barely adequate.

   an acceptable performance.

4. capable of being endured; tolerable; bearable.

   acceptable levels of radiation.

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acceptable British  

/ əkˈsɛptəbəl /

adjective

1. satisfactory; adequate

2. pleasing; welcome

3. tolerable

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Other Word Forms

• acceptability
  noun
• acceptableness
  noun
• unacceptability
  noun
• unacceptableness
  noun
• unacceptable
  adjective
• acceptably
  adverb
• unacceptably
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of acceptable

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word acceptābilis. See accept, -able

Explanation

Something that is acceptable is satisfactory or proper for whatever purpose it is considered; it may not be all that’s hoped for, but it's at least adequate. A grade of “A” is best, but is a grade of "C" acceptable? It depends on whom you ask. The word acceptable means "able to accept," a word that comes from the Latin acceptare, which meant "to take willingly." Although the word acceptable suggests something that is fine, it sometimes suggests the least that would be sufficient, and can carry a somewhat negative connotation, as was the case when Franz Kafka wrote, "Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable."

Example Sentences

According to the researchers, this makes open-label placebos a promising and ethically acceptable strategy for supporting healthy aging.

From Science Daily • Jun. 25, 2026

He added: "Our own work continues at pace to raise standards and address the cultural issues in the Met that created an environment where these awful views could be seen as acceptable behaviour."

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

And above all, rooting wildly for one’s own country in delightfully idiosyncratic ways is perfectly acceptable.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026

But the more money the hyperscalers invest, the more money they will have to make back to achieve acceptable returns for investors.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

This abandoned library parking lot was like an alternate universe where everyone really cared about raw eggs, and holding hands was a totally acceptable thing to do.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Related Words

• adequate
• common
• decent
• fair
• respectable
• sufficient
• tolerable