colorable
Americanadjective
-
capable of being colored.
-
seemingly valid, true, or genuine; plausible.
-
pretended; deceptive.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of colorable
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at color, -able
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.
“We are very happy that the court has acknowledged that the plaintiffs have brought colorable constitutional claims forward,” said Mike Laux, an attorney for the teachers and students who filed suit.
From Seattle Times ● May 8, 2024
“And I think Florida State knows that as well. I think they threw in anything they could potentially think of as a colorable argument to get them out of the grant-of-rights agreement.”
From Washington Times ● Dec. 22, 2023
To get removal, a federal officer must show that the indicted conduct is both under the auspices of his official duties and "a colorable federal defense," meaning it can defeat the charge.
From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2023
Experts agree that there are colorable grounds under which some claims of either executive privilege or 5th Amendment privilege against self-incrimination might apply.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2021
The purpose, no doubt, was to give some colorable excuse to the judges for rescuing Verres, the great paymaster, from the fangs of Cicero.
From The Life of Cicero Volume One by Trollope, Anthony
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.
