adaptable
Americanadjective
-
capable of being adapted.
-
able to adjust oneself readily to different conditions.
an adaptable person.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of adaptable
Explanation
Something that is adaptable can change to fit its environment, whether that environment is natural or social. The level to which a species is adaptable to changing surroundings is an important factor in the study of evolution. Let’s look at the Latin word adaptāre, from the root aptus "fitted." The ad- means "to, while the aptare means "join." Since 15th-century medieval French, the word adapt has come to mean "to fit in or adjust." So something adaptable is something that "fits in or adjusts." An example of an adaptable creature is the arctic fox, whose fur changes from dirt-dark in summer to snow-white in winter, to better blend in with its surroundings.
Vocabulary lists containing adaptable
Power Suffix: -able
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Positive Adjectives to Describe People
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chicken, however, is omnipresent — the quiet overachiever of the protein world, endlessly adaptable and perennially in demand.
From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026
These organisms are highly adaptable, living in extreme conditions ranging from hot springs to the Arctic, as well as on surfaces like roofs and walls in cities.
From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026
While some adaptable species have increased, those reliant on specific habitats such as woodland or chalk grassland are struggling.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
The new leadership has proved resilient and adaptable, emerging from the first five weeks of the war with its command and control intact.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
‘It disappeared. Darwin would say it wasn’t adaptable enough to survive, so it didn’t.’
From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
