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colourable

British  
/ ˈkʌlərəbəl /

adjective

  1. capable of being coloured

  2. appearing to be true; plausible

    a colourable excuse

  3. pretended; feigned

    colourable affection

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He added Slater "genuinely held on at least colourable grounds" the belief that an issue with the Act was "unlikely actually to pose a problem for the scheme".

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

There they are fused, and welded into that perfect whole which is perhaps the only colourable imitation ever to be had on earth of the democracy said to prevail in Heaven.

From Bunker Bean by Wilson, Harry Leon

If he could but rig up an hour's colourable pretext of vision, however imperfect, the reality might return in its own good time—if that was the will of Allah—and that time might be soon enough.

From When Ghost Meets Ghost by De Morgan, William Frend

“Do come,” the young lady begged, with a very colourable imitation of enthusiasm.

From Jacob's Ladder by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)

It is not easily colourable; with usage the top surface gets wiped off, leaving a hollow.

From The Repairing & Restoration of Violins 'The Strad' Library, No. XII. by Petherick, Horace

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