deductible

American  

[dih-duhk-tuh-buhl] / dɪˈdʌk tə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being deducted.

2. allowable as a tax deduction.

   Charitable contributions are deductible expenses.

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noun

1. the amount for which the insured is liable on each loss, injury, etc., before an insurance company will make payment.

   The deductible on our medical coverage has been raised from $50 to $100 per illness.

deductible British  

/ dɪˈdʌktɪbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being deducted

2. short for tax-deductible

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noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): excess.  insurance a specified contribution towards the cost of a claim, stipulated on certain insurance policies as being payable by the policyholder

Other Word Forms

• deductibility noun
• nondeductibility noun
• nondeductible adjective
• undeductible adjective

Etymology

Origin of deductible

First recorded in 1855–60; deduct + -ible

Explanation

Deductible can be the amount you have to pay before your health insurance kicks in, or it can mean an amount you can take off your taxes for various payments you have already made. Strange that one deductible can be so friendly and the other one so mean. The Latin deducere, meaning "to derive," eventually became the word deduct, meaning "to take away." In the mid-19th century, the word deductible was born, meaning something "may be deducted." As a noun, a deductible is something you pay, such as your insurance deductible. As an adjective, deductible describes something you can subtract from a total, usually from your taxes. Andy Warhol once said, “Employees make the best dates. You don't have to pick them up and they're always tax-deductible.”

Example Sentences

There are new tax breaks for people who make tips and overtime pay — but workers might have to do some heavy lifting to determine what amounts are tax deductible.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

But states including New York allow pass-through entities to pay tax at the entity level, which is fully deductible on federal tax returns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Florida does have a medically needy or “share of cost” program, which allows individuals with income slightly above the Medicaid threshold to qualify by treating the excess income as a deductible.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

After buying a $16 entry ticket — no deductible — audience members have the option of scribbling an anonymous confession or a personal dilemma onto a piece of paper before dropping it into a box.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

But it helps their image, it’s tax deductible, and the government backs off some.

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez