accessible

American  

[ak-ses-uh-buhl, ik-] / ækˈsɛs ə bəl, ɪk- /

adjective

1. easy to approach, reach, enter, speak with, or use.

2. able to be used, entered, reached, etc..

   an accessible road; accessible Mayan ruins.

3. suitable for disabled people to reach, enter, or use, as a result of design modifications: modified controllers to make video games accessible.

   wheelchair-accessible vans;

   modified controllers to make video games accessible.

4. readily understandable.

   Students may believe that poetry is not accessible because of its metaphorical language.

5. obtainable; attainable.

   accessible evidence.

6. open to the influence of (usually followed byto ).

   accessible to bribery.

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accessible British  

/ əkˈsɛsəbəl /

adjective

1. easy to approach, enter, use, or understand

2. likely to be affected by; open to; susceptible to

3. obtainable; available

4. easy for disabled people to enter or use

5. logic (of a possible world) surveyable from some other world so that the truth value of statements about it can be known. A statement possibly p is true in a world W if and only if p is true in some worlds accessible to W

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unaccessibly
  adverb
• accessibility
  noun
• unaccessible
  adjective
• nonaccessible
  adjective
• preaccessible
  adjective
• accessibly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of accessible

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, Middle French, from Late Latin accessibilis; see origin at access, -ible

Explanation

Accessible can mean easy to get to. If the mall is easily accessible, you might be tempted to spend a lot of money on your lunch breaks. The "within reach" definition of the adjective accessible does not just refer to physical distance. A person can be accessible if they are approachable and friendly. A celebrity that is accessible probably signs a lot of autographs and grants interviews. The word can also describe something that is easily understood. You might need to read a plot summary of a long convoluted novel — to make it more accessible or easy to follow.

Example Sentences

The project, she added, would result in "clear degradation of the rural environment" and would not be accessible on foot or by bike, thus doing "little to achieve" council active transport goals.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

While financial advisers often recommend keeping six to 12 months of expenses in readily accessible accounts, retirees may prefer a larger cushion.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

This change was partly accomplished by the creation of the Access Artist Advisory Board, which was dedicated to making things more accessible — physically and emotionally, but also financially.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

"Everything is so accessible that almost everything has no value. So, I feel this is the right time to have a story of enduring love," he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

It was close enough to be accessible to government leaders—only 40 kilometers from Moscow—but it was far enough to be private.

From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson

Related Words

• available
• handy
• reachable
• usable