billable

American  

[bil-uh-buhl] / ˈbɪl ə bəl /

adjective

1. that may or should be billed.

   Attorneys put in hundreds of billable hours on the case.

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noun

1. an active customer account.

billable British  

/ ˈbɪləbəl /

adjective

1. referring to time worked, esp by a lawyer, on behalf of a particular client and for which that client will be expected to pay

   a timesheet of my billable hours

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Other Word Forms

• nonbillable
  adjective
• unbillable
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of billable

First recorded in 1570–80; bill ¹ + -able

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

billable

“Better documentation can capture patient complexity that was previously missed. The same tools can also make it easier to identify billable conditions, whether or not those conditions change care,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

For instance, if one party comes from multigenerational wealth, or both do, then trust-and-estate complexities will likely require more billable hours to work out.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

As AI threatens to make the billable hour obsolete, professional-services firms wrestle with reinventing how they charge clients.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026

Ford alleges the firm intentionally slowed down its clients’ cases to drive up their billable hours, instructing drivers not to communicate with Ford and pushing them toward filing a lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

She said the hours that count toward bonuses can include care that isn’t billable, such as services a particular insurer doesn’t cover.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

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