edible
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of edible
First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin edibilis, equivalent to ed(ere) “to eat” + -ibilis adjective suffix; see origin at eat ( def. ), -ible
Explanation
If it’s edible, you can eat it. Many things that you may not want to eat are, in fact, edible. Certain insects are edible, which just means that you can consume them without getting sick (if it doesn't gross you out too much). Edible comes from the Latin word edere, which means “to eat.” Anything that people can safely eat is described as edible. Long before there were complex labels on our packages of food, human predecessors were living in caves and sampling various plants and animals for their survival, all the while learning the hard way whether or not certain things were either edible or poisonous. You are most likely a descendant of the ones who found the edible stuff.
Vocabulary lists containing edible
NAEP Test Words
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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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.
A fully realized edible garden, complete with raised beds and fruiting trees, enhances the property’s sense of abundance and connection to nature.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026
Another sent an edible fruit bouquet from Australia.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
I think it’s safe to say that a math formula written on a sheet of paper is not a conscious entity—just as a croissant recipe is not an edible pastry.
From Slate • May 25, 2026
With G&T, dinners showcase Dorset’s homegrown ingredients at their best: delicate hand-dived scallops from Lyme Bay, organic salads scattered with edible flowers, puddings as light as cherry blossoms.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
For prehistoric humans the most productive forest was the deciduous leafy forest because of its abundance of edible nuts, such as walnuts, chestnuts, horse chestnuts, acorns, and beechnuts.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
