debatable
Americanadjective
-
open to question; in dispute; doubtful.
Whether or not he is qualified for the job is debatable.
- Synonyms:
- disputable, arguable, dubious, questionable
-
capable of being debated.
adjective
-
open to question; disputable
-
law in dispute, as land or territory to which two parties lay claim
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of debatable
1425–75; late Middle English < Middle French. See debate, -able
Explanation
We know the sky is blue and the earth has one moon. But is there life on other planets? Such a question is debatable, meaning it is subject to disagreement or doubt. If you've ever seen politicians or anyone else have a debate, then you already have a pretty good idea of what debatable means. Something is debatable if there's reason to doubt it. If you say you're going to play in the NBA someday, but you're very short, your plans are debatable. Many issues, like how to create more jobs, are debatable because there isn't one correct answer to them.
Vocabulary lists containing debatable
Amal Unbound
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Cope Field
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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.
For all that, the description of Musk as a trillionaire rests on the debatable value of SpaceX, which accounts — by Bloomberg’s estimate — for nearly 78% of Musk’s net worth.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
What to know: It’s debatable whether “Legally Blonde” needs a prequel series, but one is coming anyway, starring Lexi Minetree in the title role made famous by Reese Witherspoon, one of the show’s executive producers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
To my mind, the top six or seven are obvious - even if the order is debatable - but it's those who fill the remaining spots that will no doubt spark the biggest talking point.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
America will remain immensely powerful, but its ability and willingness to act in this way seems increasingly debatable.
From MarketWatch • May 31, 2026
Just why Mr. Frodo was selling his beautiful hole was even more debatable than the price.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
