distinguishable
Americanadjective
-
able to be recognized as different, usually by means of some readily noticed feature or characteristic.
The forged bills were easily distinguishable from real ones because they only had printing on one side.
-
able to be perceived or discerned.
A large gray SUV followed in close pursuit, with the general’s silhouette vaguely distinguishable in the back seat.
Other Word Forms
- distinguishability noun
- distinguishableness noun
- distinguishably adverb
- nondistinguishable adjective
- nondistinguishableness noun
- nondistinguishably adverb
- undistinguishable adjective
Etymology
Origin of distinguishable
Explanation
Something that's distinguishable can be detected or observed, especially as being separate or different from something else. The one chocolate sea salt doughnut in the box will be easily distinguishable from the plain doughnuts. In some people with color blindness, red isn't distinguishable from green — in other words, it can't be perceived as a different, separate color. You might complain that the policies of your city's new mayor, despite her promises, are barely distinguishable from those of her predecessor. The verb distinguish is at the heart of this adjective, and it comes from the Latin distinguere, "to separate between."
Vocabulary lists containing distinguishable
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Words with 15 or More Letters, List 1
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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.
"Crucially, no matter the angle from which the missile is viewed from, the wings and the turbo jet would be visible. None of that is clearly distinguishable from the footage," he said.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
"These are specific wounds, for example from mine blasts" -- easily distinguishable from the victims of car accidents and extreme sports enthusiasts.
From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026
At that distance, Harvey’s driving performance was only distinguishable by its ordered consistency—a quality somehow more human than human.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026
In fact, Tor traffic is easily distinguishable from regular Internet traffic and can readily be blocked.
From Salon • Nov. 26, 2025
It was scarcely distinguishable from his guffaw, but there was a difference.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
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.
