collapsible
Americanadjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of collapsible
Explanation
Something that can be folded down into a manageable size is said to be collapsible, i.e., able to be collapsed. It is used as an adjective, as in "He folded up the collapsible table and put it in his car." Collapsible is formed from the verb collapse, which comes from the Latin collāpsus, "fallen together." This makes sense, since something that is collapsible "falls" into a tighter, more compact size or shape. Of course, anything that is able to fall can be considered collapsible, but the word refers more to something that is intentionally made to fall, rather than something like a rickety building that might collapse.
Vocabulary lists containing collapsible
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -able, -ible
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co-, col-
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-ible
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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.
Chips, water and other snacks were piled inside collapsible carts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2026
Her board was also padded, which reduced damage to fabrics and helped prevent garment creases during ironing, and it was collapsible, enabling easy storage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
Under Plan B, the four astronauts are using personal reusable containers called "collapsible contingency urine disposal devices."
From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026
The astronauts have instead used an alternative system which involves collapsible plastic containers that collect their urine.
From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2026
She uses a huge spear that expands from this collapsible Mace canister she carries in her pocket, but that’s not the scary part.
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
