colorable

American  

[kuhl-er-uh-buhl] / ˈkʌl ər ə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being colored.

2. seemingly valid, true, or genuine; plausible.

3. pretended; deceptive.

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Other Word Forms

• colorability
  noun
• colorableness
  noun
• noncolorability
  noun
• noncolorableness
  noun
• noncolorable
  adjective
• precolorable
  adjective
• uncolorable
  adjective
• colorably
  adverb
• noncolorably
  adverb
• uncolorably
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of colorable

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at color, -able

Example Sentences

“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

Thus, she asserted, the Georgia senator does not have any applicable "colorable federal defense."

From Salon • Sep. 6, 2023

“Here there is simply no colorable claim of ownership over the broad ideas, public data, and common techniques expressed in the decree,” Melloy wrote.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 3, 2023

“How many cases will there be with a colorable claim of incitement against the president?” the judge asked.

From Washington Post • Dec. 7, 2022

Notwithstanding, however, this colorable plea, this House has in some instances proceeded to punish the persons who have thus insulted it.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 11 (of 12) by Burke, Edmund