colourable
Britishadjective
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capable of being coloured
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appearing to be true; plausible
a colourable excuse
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pretended; feigned
colourable affection
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
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
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.
