convertible

American  

[kuhn-vur-tuh-buhl] / kənˈvɜr tə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being converted.

2. having a folding top, as an automobile or pleasure boat.

3. exchangeable for something of equal value.

   debts payable only in convertible currencies.

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noun

• convertibles
  plural

1. an automobile or a boat with a folding top.

2. a sofa, couch, or chair whose seating section can be folded out into a bed.

3. Finance. a convertible bond or security.

convertible British  

/ kənˈvɜːtəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being converted

2. (of a car) having a folding or removable roof

3. finance

   1. a bond or debenture that can be converted to ordinary or preference shares on a fixed date at a fixed price

   2. (of a paper currency) exchangeable on demand for precious metal to an equivalent value

   3. able to be converted into a longer term mortgage without financial penalty

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noun

1. a car with a folding or removable roof

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• convertibility
  noun
• convertibleness
  noun
• nonconvertibility
  noun
• nonconvertibleness
  noun
• unconvertibility
  noun
• unconvertibleness
  noun
• nonconvertible
  adjective
• unconvertible
  adjective
• convertibly
  adverb
• nonconvertibly
  adverb
• unconvertibly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• convertibles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of convertible

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word convertibilis. See convert ¹, -ible

Explanation

If it starts to rain while you’re riding in a convertible car with the top down, you can always put the top back up. Convertible is an adjective that means “capable of changing from one form to another.” Something that is convertible can be changed or transformed from one thing to another. Money, for instance, is convertible because it can be changed from one currency to another — for example, from dollars to euros. A sofa bed is convertible because it can be transformed from a sofa into a bed. Likewise, a convertible jacket is a jacket that can be changed (by removing the sleeves or an inner lining) depending on the weather.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

convertible convertibles

Issuers sold nearly than $90 billion in convertible bonds in the second quarter, the strongest on record.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Still, the company has $1.3 billion in reserve, as well as a new $175 million convertible debenture facility to fund its ongoing construction ramp.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

The company said it grew its bitcoin holdings by 11% to 846,000 bitcoin and reduced its convertible debt by 18% to $6.7 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

They also weigh how easily foreigners can trade in a market, how freely money can move and how convertible the currency is.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

I want to take a road trip, in a convertible, with the top down.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

The Alphabet preferred yields more than 6%, versus 0.2% for the common stock, but the preferred lacks the security of traditional convertibles since it will be converted into Alphabet common in three years.

From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026

SUVs certainly have the kind of celebrity endorsement convertibles used to enjoy.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

A high delta means the convertibles track the stock closely.

From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026

A new Chrysler LeBaron brought convertibles back to America after a years-long absence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

Open cars of flowers—like convertibles in some nightmare Rose Parade—crept behind the curtained hearse.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

• adaptable