impeachable
Americanadjective
-
capable of being impeached or accused
-
(of an offence) making a person liable to impeachment
Usage
What does impeachable mean? Impeachable is used to describe an offense that could get a public official impeached—formally accused of misconduct. The act or process of or the state of being impeached in this way is called impeachment. In the U. S., impeach and its related words are closely associated with the act of officially bringing charges of misconduct against a sitting president (though other federal officials can be impeached). Describing an offense as impeachable means it could result in impeachment. The U. S. Constitution cites treason and bribery as impeachable offenses, along with other “high crimes and misdemeanors.”Impeachable can also be used in this context to describe a person who could be impeached. For example, presidents and some other federal officials are impeachable according to the law. Sometimes, the word is used to indicate that a person did something that could get them impeached, as in These offenses absolutely make the president impeachable. In a more general legal context, to impeach a witness means to question their credibility. The word impeach can also be used in a more general way meaning to call into question or challenge. Impeachable can be used in this sense, but the opposite, unimpeachable, is much more common. It’s used to describe things that cannot be questioned or are impossible to discredit because there is absolutely nothing wrong with them, as in His record is unimpeachable, so his opponents have resorted to inventing scandals. Example: There is no doubt that accepting a bribe from a foreign official is an impeachable offense.
Other Word Forms
- impeachability noun
- nonimpeachability noun
- nonimpeachable adjective
Etymology
Origin of impeachable
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.
"We've seen that the complaints truly had no merit, and the president is confident he committed no impeachable offence," she told reporters after the ruling, adding Marcos believed it was now time to "move forward".
From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026
Charles Cooke, writing in the National Review, insists that "the term 'good behavior' says what it means and means what it says. The judge may serve so long as he or she does nothing impeachable."
From Salon • Apr. 11, 2023
The state Supreme Court has ruled that the constitution makes specific mention of the governor, lieutenant governor and judges as impeachable officers.
From Washington Times • Apr. 2, 2023
In fact, it leaves it to Congress to decide what acts constitute impeachable offenses and when they must have occurred.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2023
It was accompanied by a brief of authorities upon the law of impeachable crimes and misdemeanors, prepared by Hon. William Lawrence of Ohio with characteristic industry and learning.
From Twenty Years of Congress, Volume 2 From Lincoln to Garfield, with a Review of the Events Which Led to the Political Revolution of 1860 by Blaine, James Gillespie
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.
