colourable

British  

/ ˈkʌlərəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being coloured

2. appearing to be true; plausible

   a colourable excuse

3. pretended; feigned

   colourable affection

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Other Word Forms

• colourability noun
• colourably adverb

Example Sentences

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

“The upper part of your face is a colourable imitation of Klaas’s.”

From The Golden Rock by Glanville, Ernest

And these are the worthy Services which the Spaniards do for our Kings in those Countries, by the injust and colourable pretences aforesaid.

From A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies Or, a faithful NARRATIVE OF THE Horrid and Unexampled Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of Cruelties, that Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish Spanish Party on the inhabitants of West-India, TOGETHER With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in America by Fire and Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from the time of its first Discovery by them. by Casas, Bartolomé de las

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

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

Tourists are also catered for in a native block-stamped variety, which is at least a colourable imitation of the real article.

From Across the Equator A Holiday Trip in Java by Reid, Thomas H.