admissible

American  

[ad-mis-uh-buhl] / ædˈmɪs ə bəl /

adjective

1. that may be allowed or conceded; allowable.

   an admissible plan.

2. capable or worthy of being admitted.

   admissible evidence.

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admissible British  

/ ədˈmɪsəbəl /

adjective

1. able or deserving to be considered or allowed

2. deserving to be admitted or allowed to enter

3. law (esp of evidence) capable of being or bound to be admitted in a court of law

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Other Word Forms

• admissibility
  noun
• admissibleness
  noun
• admissibly
  adverb
• nonadmissibility
  noun
• nonadmissible
  adjective
• nonadmissibleness
  noun
• nonadmissibly
  adverb
• unadmissible
  adjective
• unadmissibleness
  noun
• unadmissibly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of admissible

1605–15; < Latin admiss- ( see admission) + -ible; or < French, formed from same elements

Explanation

Something that's admissible is allowed or relevant. Admissible evidence in court is evidence that a judge permits to be brought forward. Evidence that's admissible is valid — it has some measure of reliability, and it makes sense in the context of a particular trial. You'll almost always find the adjective admissible describing such evidence, though the word had been around for about 200 years before it gained this legal meaning. Its Latin root is admittere, "to allow to enter, let in, or give access."

Related Words

• allowed
• justifiable
• permissible
• pertinent
• relevant