adjective
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able to be understood; comprehensible
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philosophy
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capable of being apprehended by the mind or intellect alone
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(in metaphysical systems such as those of Plato or Kant) denoting that metaphysical realm which is accessible to the intellect as opposed to the world of mere phenomena accessible to the senses
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of intelligible
1350–1400; Middle English from Latin intelligibilis, equivalent to intellig- ( see intelligent) + -ibilis -ible
Explanation
Use the adjective intelligible to describe speech that is loud and clear, like the intelligible words of your principal which, thanks to a microphone, you were able to hear. When your goal is to make your writing intelligible to anyone who reads it, you choose clear, precise words and give details that tell more about what you mean. You might also include examples. Intelligible comes from the Latin word intelligibilis, "that can understand or that which can be understood." The earlier meaning of intelligible was "able to understand," which today is closer to the meaning of intelligent.
Vocabulary lists containing intelligible
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?
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Robert M. Pirsig (1928-2017) Tribute List
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Watership Down
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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.
He added: "Her conclusions are rational and supported by proper, adequate and intelligible reasons."
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Mr. Barragán’s achievement is to make this world intelligible without making excuses for it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
Instead of merely reporting the model’s output, OpenAI collaborated with leading mathematicians to verify the result and make it intelligible to experts in the field.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
And references to the original run notwithstanding — appletinis, “Star Wars,” a certain closet — it’s intelligible and funny on its own terms , and as full of love as ever.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
By linguistic and cultural standards, there were then 12,000 Foré, speaking two mutually intelligible dialects and living in 65 villages of several hundred people each.
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.
