exchangeable

American  

[iks-cheyn-juh-buhl] / ɪksˈtʃeɪn dʒə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being exchanged.

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Related Words

Exchangeable, interchangeable apply to something that may replace something else. That which is exchangeable may be exchanged for money, credit, or other purchases to the amount of the original purchase: These dishes are exchangeable if you find they are not satisfactory. Interchangeable applies to those things capable of being reciprocally put in each other's place: Standard parts are interchangeable.

Other Word Forms

• exchangeability noun
• exchangeably adverb
• nonexchangeability noun
• nonexchangeable adjective
• unexchangeability noun
• unexchangeable adjective
• unexchangeableness noun

Etymology

Origin of exchangeable

First recorded in 1650–75; exchange + -able

Explanation

Something that's exchangeable can be traded or replaced by something else, like an exchangeable pair of shoes, which you can take back to the store and swap for a different pair. When you exchange something, you replace it with something else that is worth the same amount or has the same function, and if it's possible to do this, that thing is exchangeable. When you buy something that's marked "final sale, no returns or exchanges," your purchase is not exchangeable. And your beloved dog isn't exchangeable either — no other dog could ever replace her.

Example Sentences

The dollar, seen as a highly liquid asset owing to it being readily available and exchangeable, is seen also as a leading safe haven investment.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Capital controls still limit the yuan’s adoption because overseas countries and companies fear being stuck with a currency that isn’t easily exchangeable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2026

Kohler and Paris were touted as exchangeable for Mahdieh Esfandiari, who has been held in France since February on charges of promoting terrorism on social media.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

Saito added, "The functionalized fiber has dynamic exchangeable crosslinking with this polymer. The composite structure is really tough because of the interface characteristics. That makes a very, very strong material."

From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2024

The essential quality which constitutes wealth, and without which it would not be entitled to the name, is its exchangeable value.

From An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Garnier, Germain